Fed2 Star - the newsletter for the space trading game Federation 2

The weekly newsletter for Fed2
by ibgames

EARTHDATE: November 13, 2016

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REAL LIFE NEWS: LASER FENCES TO DETER RATS

by Hazed

The European Commission is putting €1,777,985 into research for a new way to repel rats using laser fences.

Birds and rodents are a big problem for farmers because they chew up crops. This costs money and reduces productivity. Poison can kill the pests, but they can also kill other creatures and then work their way into the food chain which is never a good thing.

Traps can sometimes work but birds are adept at figuring out traps and avoiding them.

So the idea is to use lasers. The project will take an existing product that uses light to deter birds, and adapt it so it will work with rats and other creatures as well.

The Agrilaser Autonomic uses a laser to detect birds and then shines a bright light at them. Apparently, birds see the approaching laser beam as a physical danger and fly away, leaving the crops uneaten.

I have to say I am disappointed. When I first saw the story I thought it was about developing forcefields that will surround the crops and zap any creature that tries to pass them… but sadly not.

Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/10/26/laser_rat_fence_wins_17m_european_commission_funds/

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