US 2026/0293878 A1Published application

Systems and Methods for Predator Monitoring and Deterrence

AssigneeFlyShepherd, Inc.

InventorChristopher James REDING

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Abstract

The various implementations described herein include methods and devices for predator deterrence. In one aspect, a system includes ground-based camera(s) in proximity to a protected area of land, a computing device configured to receive images captured by the ground-based cameras, detect predators, determine geospatial coordinates of detected predators, and generate predator alerts upon detecting a predator in the received images. The system also includes a drone system configured to receive the predator alerts and launch a drone with a target location specified by geospatial coordinates included in the corresponding predator alert. The system further includes, for each drone of the drone system, a deterrent subsystem that is capable of generating sound and light and executing tactical maneuvers, and a navigation subsystem that includes one or more cameras that determine flight paths. The deployed deterrents may be species-specific. A method of operating the predator deterrent system is also disclosed.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A predator deterrent system, comprising:

one or more ground-based cameras in proximity to a protected area of land;
one or more image computing devices configured to:
receive images, of the protected area of land and/or areas adjacent to the protected area of land, captured by the ground-based cameras;
utilize a trained model to determine whether the received images include images of one or more predators, wherein the trained model is trained on images of predators and images not containing predators;
determine geospatial coordinates of detected predators;
and
generate predator alerts upon detecting one or more predators in the received images;
and
a drone system comprising one or more autonomous drones configured to:
receive the predator alerts from the one or more image computing devices;
determine drone availability;
and
upon determining that at least one autonomous drone is available, automatically launch an autonomous drone with a target location specified by geospatial coordinates included in the corresponding predator alert for autonomous navigation and travel, by the autonomous drone, to the target location, wherein:
a first autonomous drone of the one or more autonomous drones further comprises a deterrent subsystem comprising:
a control system;
a speaker system configured to generate one or more predefined audio sequences over a range of volumes;
a visual output system configured to generate bursts of lights or other visual stimuli;
memory storing instructions for one or more tactical movement maneuvers of the first autonomous drone, wherein the control system specifies actions for the speaker system, the visual output system, and the tactical maneuvers of the first autonomous drone;
and
one or more drone cameras that dynamically determine flight paths for the first autonomous drone.

17 more elements

A method of deterring one or more predators, comprising:

receiving, at a computing device, one or more images from one or more cameras;
determining, by the computing device, whether the one or more images includes one or more predators;
in response to a determination that the one or more images includes one or more detected predators:
determining, by the computing device, geospatial coordinates of a detected predator based on images of the detected predator;
generating, by the computing device, a predator alert that includes the geospatial coordinates of the detected predator;
and
transmitting, by the computing device, the predator alert to a drone system that includes one or more autonomous drones;
receiving the predator alert at the drone system;
in response to receiving the predator alert at the drone system:
determining, by the drone system, drone availability;
and
upon determining that at least one autonomous drone is available, launching an autonomous drone with a target location specified by geospatial coordinates included in the corresponding predator alert;
autonomously navigating and traveling, by the autonomous drone, to the target location;
selecting, by the autonomous drone, a deterrent profile corresponding to the species identified in the predator alert, wherein:
the deterrent profile is selected from a plurality of deterrent profiles based at least in part on the species identified in the predator alert;
and
the profile includes a specific combination of one or more predefined deterrent measures that is designed to target a specific type of predator;
and
automatically deploying, by a controller of the launched autonomous drone, the one or more predefined deterrent measures in the selected deterrent profile, wherein the one or more predefined deterrent measures include outputting one or more predefined audio sequences over a range of volumes, outputting visual stimuli, [and] and/or maneuvering the drone in one or more tactical patterns.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.