DE102021001786A1 - Dynamic protection against bird strikes on window panes and mirrored facades using active hazard detection. - Google Patents

Abstract

Device to prevent bird strikes on windows and mirrored surfaces. Previously used methods to protect panes and reflective surfaces from bird strikes required permanent coating with patterns or motifs that significantly affect the view through panes and the optical appearance. The new device comes without permanently visible attachment. It captures the surroundings of the area to be protected and uses a sensor to detect when a bird is dangerously approaching the area to be protected. As soon as a risk of collision is detected, the device triggers a mechanism that scares the bird, thereby causing it to change its flight path so that the bird does not fly to the area to be protected. The scaring of the bird can either be caused by a moving element or by a a projection of patterns or motifs on the area to be protected. As long as there is no danger, the area to be protected remains largely unaffected optically and aesthetically.

Description

The invention relates to a device which prevents birds from flying against window panes or mirrored facades. The device can also be used to keep birds away from certain areas and objects.

Transparent panes and mirrored surfaces are a deadly threat to birds. Birds often do not recognize these surfaces as obstacles and fly against the panes and mirror surfaces, which is referred to as a bird strike and which can fatally injure the birds.

There are already various ways to reduce bird strikes. However, all previous options have either technical or visual-aesthetic disadvantages.

Visual identification of the pane or surface by closely sticking patterns or silhouettes of birds of prey on the pane only works if they are attached so close together that the view through is severely restricted or the aesthetics of the windows and facades are influenced.

Studies have shown that transparent infrared light-reflective stickers are largely ineffective in preventing bird strikes.

Covering the panes with moving objects such as mobiles has a high effect against bird strikes, but is also a very strong intervention in the aesthetics and appearance of the window and the building.

Also known is the use of dummy birds or randomly or regularly moving objects, randomly or regularly triggered noise sources and lights. These solutions lead to habituation in birds and thereby lose their effectiveness over time.

All currently available and working methods of protecting birds from injury and death from flying to panes and reflective surfaces must be permanently attached to or in front of surfaces whether or not a bird is about to fly to the pane. These methods impair the optics and the unobstructed view through the panes.

The object of the invention described here is to ensure reliable protection against bird strikes without having to tape or curtain the panes or surfaces.

In addition, the invention described here reliably prevents the birds from becoming accustomed to being deterred, since each use is directly related to the current behavior of the bird and can be perceived by the bird as a direct reaction to its behavior.

Birds react very skittishly and quickly to movements that are strong, sudden, unpredictable and responsive to their behavior. Such movements trigger an immediate flight reflex in birds.

The invention described here makes use of this behavior.

The area in front of the area to be protected is monitored for movement by means of a sensor. As soon as an object flies into the surveillance area, movement is triggered in front of, behind or on the surface, startling the bird and causing it to change its flight path away from the surface.

As long as no movement is detected in the monitored area in front of the window or the mirrored area or in the area of the object to be protected, hereinafter referred to as "area", the area remains free and is not optically impaired.

1. A. Als mechanische Variante, bei der im Falle einer Erkennung eines Anflugs, ein physisches Element ausgelöst wird, welches sich vor, in oder hinter der Fläche bewegt. Dieses Element löst bei dem anfliegenden Vogel den Fluchtreflex aus und zwingt ihn dadurch zur Richtungsänderung seiner Flugbahn weg von der Fläche. Zeichnung 1
2. B. Als optische Variante, bei der im Falle einer Erkennung eines Anflugs ein Muster mittels beweglichem Laserlicht, oder einer anderen hellen Lichtquelle auf, in oder hinter die zu schützende Fläche projiziert wird. Dadurch sieht die Fläche für den anfliegenden Vogel wie Hinderniss aus, und/ oder wird als Bedrohung empfunden, wodurch der Vogel die Flugbahn ändert, weg von der Fläche. Zeichnung 2

The invention presented here can essentially, but not exclusively, be implemented in two variants:

1. A. As a mechanical variant, in the event that an approach is detected, a physical element is triggered that moves in front of, in or behind the surface. This element triggers the flight reflex in the approaching bird, forcing it to change the direction of its flight path away from the surface. drawing 1
2. B. As an optical variant in which, if an approach is detected, a pattern is projected onto, into or behind the area to be protected using moving laser light or another bright light source. This makes the area look like an obstacle and/or threat to the approaching bird, causing the bird to change trajectory away from the area. drawing 2

1. A. Einem Sensor (Zeichnung 1, Nr. 2) der den Raum vor der Fläche (Zeichnung 1, Nr. 6) überwacht und anfliegende Vögel erkennt. Dieser Sensor kann beliebige Technologien zur Erkennung von Bewegungen nutzen. Idealerweise nutzt der Sensor eine Technik wie Radar oder Lidar, durch die sich nicht nur das Eindringen eines Körpers in den Überwachungsbereich erkennen lässt, sondern auch die Flugrichtung und Fluggeschwindigkeit. Durch das Erkennen der Flugrichtung und Geschwindigkeit lässt sich unnötiges Auslösen des Mechanismus zum Erschrecken oder Ablenken der Vögel reduzieren.
2. B. Einer Steuereinheit (Zeichnung 1, Nr. 3) zur Auswertung der Signale des Sensors und zur Steuerung der Mechanismus, die den Vogel verscheucht oder ablenkt. Diese Steuereinheit kann je nach Bauart auch in eine der anderen Komponenten integriert werden.
3. C. Ein Aktuator z.B. ein Motor oder anderer Bewegungsantrieb (Zeichnung 1, Nr. 4), der die Bewegung ausführt die notwendig ist, um den Vogel zu verscheuchen oder eine Änderung der Flugbahn zu veranlassen.
4. D. Ein Element (Zeichnung 1, Nr. 5), welches sich für den Vogel gut sichtbar vor, in oder hinter der Fläche bewegt und den Vogel erschreckt und zur Änderung der Flugbahn weg von der Fläche veranlasst.

Description of the invention in embodiment A. Shown in drawing 1 The invention essentially consists of 4 elements.

1. A. A sensor (drawing 1, no. 2) that monitors the area in front of the area (drawing 1, no. 6) and recognizes approaching birds. This sensor can detect any technology use movements. Ideally, the sensor uses a technology such as radar or lidar, which not only detects the intrusion of a body into the surveillance area, but also the flight direction and flight speed. By recognizing the flight direction and speed, unnecessary triggering of the mechanism to startle or distract the birds can be reduced.
2. B. A control unit (drawing 1, no. 3) for evaluating the signals from the sensor and for controlling the mechanism that scares away or distracts the bird. Depending on the design, this control unit can also be integrated into one of the other components.
3. C. An actuator such as a motor or other motion drive (Drawing 1, No. 4) that performs the motion necessary to scare the bird away or cause a change in flight path.
4. D. An element (Drawing 1, No. 5) which moves in front of, in or behind the surface in a way that is clearly visible to the bird and which frightens the bird and causes it to change its flight path away from the surface.

1. A. Sensor (Zeichnung 2, Nr. 2). Siehe Ausführung A
2. B. Steuerungseinheit (Zeichnung 2, Nr. 3). Siehe Ausführung A
3. C. Lichtquelle (Zeichnung 2, Nr. 4) zur Erzeugung eines statischen oder bewegten Musters oder Motivs mittels Licht auf, in oder vor/ hinter der Fläche. Zur Anwendung kommen kann jede Form von Lichtquelle, die in der Lage ist, das Muster auch bei Tageslicht und direkter Sonneneinstrahlung für den Vogel gut sichtbar in oder vor/ hinter der Fläche darzustellen. Zum heutigen Stand der Technik eignet sich ein beweglicher Laserstrahl am besten. Die Lichtquelle projiziert im Falle eines Anflugs ein Muster oder Motiv in oder vor/ hinter die Fläche, wodurch dem Vogel eine mehr oder weniger geschlossene, nicht zu durchfliegende Fläche oder eine akute Gefahr anzeigt wird.
4. D. Projektion (Zeichnung 2, Nr. 5) eines Musters oder Motivs in oder vor/ hinter der Fläche, welchen den gleichen oder ähnlichen Effekt aufweist, wie eine dichte Beklebung der Fläche zB mit Vogelsilhouetten oder anderen Motiven.

Description of the invention in embodiment B. Shown in drawing 2 The invention in embodiment B is identical in elements A (drawing 2, no. 2) and B (drawing 2, no. 3) to those in the description for embodiment A listed items. The difference between version B and version A lies in the elements C. actuator and D. element for triggering the flight reflex or causing the bird to change direction.

1. A. Sensor (drawing 2, no. 2). See version A
2. B. Control unit (drawing 2, no. 3). See version A
3. C. Light source (Drawing 2, No. 4) for generating a static or moving pattern or motif using light on, in or in front of/ behind the surface. Any form of light source can be used that is able to show the pattern clearly visible to the bird in or in front of/ behind the surface, even in daylight and direct sunlight. With the current state of the art, a movable laser beam is best suited. In the event of an approach, the light source projects a pattern or motif in or in front of/ behind the area, which indicates to the bird a more or less closed area that cannot be flown through or an acute danger.
4. D. Projection (Drawing 2, No. 5) of a pattern or motif in or in front of/ behind the surface, which has the same or similar effect as dense pasting of the surface, for example with bird silhouettes or other motifs.

The invention can also be implemented in other forms by associating the invention with a sound or light source that is triggered in the event of the bird flying into the area monitored by the sensor. This version is particularly appropriate when it is not panes or surfaces that are to be protected but buildings or parts thereof or terraces, gardens, fields, flower beds or other areas accessible to birds.

The device described here is preferably mounted on or in the upper window frame (drawing 1 and 2, no. 1) centrally above the area to be protected. However, it can also be attached at any other point around and on the surface to be protected. It can also be integrated into the window frame or the area to be protected.

The device requires a power supply that can be produced either by connecting to the power grid, using batteries or accumulators, or using solar cells or other power sources.

The main advantage of the invention described here over the prior art is that it can be integrated almost invisibly into facades, window frames and other surfaces or structures. The optical disturbance can be reduced to a minimum by means of covers adapted to the environment.

Most of the time when there is no risk of a bird strike, the ability to see through panes/surfaces and the visual appearance of reflective surfaces is in no way impaired.

The device presented here can be controlled independently of the weather and time of day, which further reduces the impairment of the areas to be protected.

Furthermore, with the appropriate equipment, the device can also be used to determine the risk of bird strikes for individual areas by storing the data of the birds detected by the sensor and their flight paths and transmitting them for evaluation.

Claims (3)

Device for protection against bird strikes on discs, surfaces or objects, characterized in that the bird and / or its trajectory by a sensor or other suitable for detecting apparatus (2) detected and an actuator (4) is triggered when a bird in the by enters the sensor (2) monitored area. This will cause movement in, behind or in front of the pane, surface or object to startle the bird and direct the bird's trajectory away from the pane, surface or object. device after claim 1 characterized in that a pattern, one/several colors or one/several motifs is projected in, on, in front of/behind the pane, surface or object in order to show the bird the area as an area that cannot be flown through, or to scare the bird, so that it deflects the trajectory away from the disc, surface or object. device after claim 1 characterized in that movement, sound or light sources are used to drive birds out of areas, objects or surfaces or keep them away.

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