Eye-Safe Laser Animal Deterrence Using Flicker-Fusion Frequency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for protecting designated areas from animal encroachment, such as airports, are ineffective due to high costs, environmental concerns, and the inability to instantaneously respond to animal presence, leading to potential hazards from aircraft-animal collisions.
Innovation Solution
An animal-entry protection apparatus equipped with an eye-safe laser that emits pulsed laser beams at specific frequencies to deter animals without causing permanent harm, using a computing device to detect animal presence and adjust the laser's activation based on human and animal flicker-fusion frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods are used to protect designated areas from animal encroachment, then protection is provided, but the methods are ineffective and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical or manual animal protection methods (such as physical barriers or human monitoring) with an optical system using lasers. The laser system detects and deters animals through light interaction, substituting mechanical approaches with optical fields that are more effective and less costly to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in laser parameters (wavelength, pulse duration, intensity) to achieve effective animal deterrence while maintaining safety. By adjusting these parameters, the system creates light interactions that are disturbing to animals but harmless to humans, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and safety.
2Reliability
If lasers are used to deter animals, then animal encroachment is prevented, but there is risk of harm to animals or humans
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different laser characteristics to different targets. The laser parameters are specifically tuned to create effects that are disturbing to animal visual systems while remaining below harmful thresholds for human eyes. This local quality approach ensures selective deterrence without universal harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pulsed laser operation rather than continuous emission. The periodic pulsing at specific frequencies creates a disturbing effect on animals while allowing thermal dissipation and preventing overheating or permanent damage. The pulsed nature provides safety margins while maintaining deterrence effectiveness.
3Reliability
If continuous laser emission is used, then animal deterrence is maximized, but energy consumption increases and safety concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic pulsed laser emission instead of continuous operation. The pulses are timed and frequency-modulated to maximize psychological or sensory impact on animals while minimizing total energy consumption. The intermittent nature reduces power requirements while maintaining deterrence through frequency-based disturbance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of laser parameters including pulse frequency, duration, and intensity based on detection ranges and target identification. The system adapts emission characteristics in real-time, using higher power only when necessary and lower power for maintenance deterrence, optimizing energy efficiency while maintaining effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus effectively and safely deters animal encroachment by using eye-safe lasers to distract animals, reducing the risk of collisions and operational costs while being environmentally friendly and requiring minimal personnel.
Implementation Method 1
an eye-safe laser is activated to emit a pulsed laser beam toward the location of the animal
Implementation Method 2
laser pulses having a laser-pulse rate that is between a first laser-pulse rate associated with a flicker-fusion frequency of a human eye and a second laser-pulse rate associated with a flicker-fusion frequency of an animal eye
Data Source
AI summary
An animal-entry protection apparatus and related methods for protecting protected areas from animal entry are described. The animal-entry protection apparatus includes an eye-safe laser and a computing device. The animal-entry protection apparatus determines whether an animal has entered into a protected area. After determining that the animal has entered into the protected area, the animal-entry protection apparatus determines a location of the animal within the protected area and activates the eye-safe laser to emit a pulsed laser beam toward the location of the animal. The pulsed laser beam includes laser pulses having a laser-pulse rate that is between a first laser-pulse rate associated with a flicker-fusion frequency of a human eye and a second laser-pulse rate associated with a flicker-fusion frequency of an animal eye.