CAD of Bird Tracker
Bird Tracker Prototype Components
Bird Tracker Prototype Assembled
The Receiver Part will be mounted onto Street Signs

Nene Crossing Guard

On the island of Kauai, Hawaii, the endangered Nene bird is often accidentally run over by cars. In the last two years alone, 50 Nene birds (out of approximately 1200 left in Hawaii) have been run over on the small island. Drivers can be fined up to $5000 for such an accident, since these birds are a protected species. The inspiration behind this project is that a member of our team, Zoe McGinnis, is from this area of Hawaii. She made us aware of the issues with her state bird and together we came up with a potential solution to try to alert unsuspecting drivers that one of these Nene birds is near the road.

What We Do

Our product uses Bluetooth modules that detects whether a Nene bird is within 50 feet of the road and if one is detected triggers led light on signs along the road to flash. This helps to alert drivers to be more alert, ensuring they don't run over one of the endangered birds.

How It Works

Our design involves setting up receivers in a staggered pattern along the roads such that they are spaced 50 feet apart from one another. In order to maximize the product's range capabilities, the receiver is closer to the ground and is connected to the LED lights higher up on the sign.

Challenges

We faced challenges in designing and cadding the housing for these electrical parts, but we believe we have created the appropriate housing to the best of our knowledge. The bird tracker is strapped to the leg of Nene birds and are sturdy enough to withstand potential impact forces.