US Army Uses Robot Coyotes to Keep Wildlife Away from Aircraft

The US Army is testing an unusual but clever new method to protect its aircraft from wildlife — by using robot coyotes.

Developed by the Army’s Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), these robotic "coyote rovers" are designed to scare off animals from airfields and reduce the risk of dangerous encounters with military planes. These life-sized, four-wheeled machines are made to look like coyotes, natural predators that many animals fear.

The idea comes from a real and costly problem. Between 2007 and 2016, wildlife incidents at US military air bases caused an estimated $251 million in damages. Birds sucked into engines, rabbits chewing through cables, or deer wandering onto runways can cause serious accidents, especially during takeoff and landing when aircraft are most vulnerable.

To tackle this, different branches of the US military have tried various solutions. The Navy has used trained hawks, while the Air Force employs radar systems to detect flocks of birds. The Army, however, still relies mostly on human teams to patrol airfields — a method that’s labor-intensive and expensive.

That’s where the robot coyotes come in. Built on a fast and durable platform made by Texas company Traxxas, these coyote bots can travel at speeds up to 32 km/h (20 mph), making them quick enough to resemble real predators. They are unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), capable of patrolling specific areas while avoiding sensitive zones like runways. They're also supported by a docking and charging station that lets them operate autonomously for several days at a time.

The cost of each robot coyote is around $3,000 — relatively cheap for military tech — making it a practical and affordable solution. Initial field tests have already taken place at several Naval Air Stations, and more trials are expected in the coming months, depending on funding.

ERDC’s research biologist, Shea Hammond, said the Army is also looking into enhancing the rovers with autonomous navigation features and artificial intelligence. In the future, these bots could recognize specific bird species and respond with customized deterrent tactics.

If successful, these robotic coyotes may become a regular part of the US military’s toolkit for keeping airfields safe, showing how even nature-inspired ideas can play a role in protecting high-tech equipment and ensuring mission readiness.