A Runway Safety System Based on Vertically Oriented Stereovision.

Area of Science:

• Aviation Safety and Wildlife Management
• Computer Vision and Sensor Systems
• Internet of Things (IoT) and Distributed Computing

Background:

• Bird strikes cause significant financial losses and pose a serious threat to aviation safety and wildlife globally.
• Over 10,000 bird strikes were reported in the USA in 2020, with worldwide repair costs reaching $1.2 billion.
• Existing airport monitoring systems often lack the real-time detection and classification capabilities needed for effective bird strike prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a real-time stereovision-based system for monitoring airport airspace to detect and identify moving objects, specifically birds.
• To create a flexible, usable, and customizable bird protection system tailored for small and medium-sized airports.
• To enhance aviation safety by providing a cost-effective solution for bird strike mitigation.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a modified stereovision system with freely oriented optical axes for enhanced customization.
• Integration of Internet of Things (IoT) and distributed computing concepts with advanced Human-Machine Interface (HMI).
• Development and optimization of a mathematical model in MATLAB, followed by prototype verification in a real-world environment using fixed-wing drones with GPS recorders.

Main Results:

• The system demonstrates high efficiency in real-time detection and size classification of moving objects.
• High certainty in the localization of detected objects was achieved.
• The prototype verification confirmed the system's effectiveness in a practical airport setting.

Conclusions:

• The proposed stereovision-based system offers a viable and efficient solution for real-time bird detection and localization at airports.
• The user-driven design and customizable approach make the system affordable and suitable for small to medium-sized airports.
• This technology has the potential to significantly reduce the risks and costs associated with bird strikes, improving overall aviation safety.