SBIR Phase I: Protecting Birds and Bats from Wind Turbine Hazards Using Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diodes

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将展示高亮度紫外线发光二极管(UVLED)系统的技术和商业可行性，该系统可诱导鸟类和蝙蝠的非自愿回避反应。该系统的目的是通过阻止鸟类和蝙蝠进入正在运行的风力涡轮机的活动转子区域来降低它们的死亡率，从而将直接碰撞或气压创伤造成的死亡或受伤风险降至最低。许多鸟类和蝙蝠物种对紫外光具有光谱敏感性，并已知对信号颜色和明亮的光源发生反应，而人类对紫外线没有光谱敏感性，也不会对紫外线发光二极管系统的运行有全面的认识。《濒危物种法》对物种保护的严格规定以及鸟类和蝙蝠的一般死亡率正在指导着新风电场(包括陆地和离岸风电场)选址和现有风电场运营的许可审批程序。该项目的更广泛/商业潜力在于，它解决了影响新建和现有风电场许可的主要问题。此外，UVLED系统还有许多其他潜在的应用。这些应用包括保护机场？在飞机上安装紫外线灯以防止鸟撞；安装在广播/电视和其他发射塔上以将鸟类死亡率降至最低；安装在已知鸟类死亡率较高的大型建筑物上；保护沥青坑和类似危险不受鸟类死亡的影响；以及保护桥梁、屋顶和类似空间免受鸟类粪便的滋扰。此外，蝙蝠通过提供自然的虫害控制，每英亩为农民节省约74美元。美国食虫蝙蝠提供的虫害防治服务每年可能为美国农业节省至少30亿美元。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will demonstrate the technical and commercial viability of a high-brightness ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UVLED) system for inducing an involuntary avoidance response of birds and bats. The purpose of this system is to reduce the mortality rates of birds and bats by deterring them from entering the active rotor zone area of an operating wind turbine and thus minimizing the risk of mortality or injury from direct collision or barotrauma. Many avian and bat species have spectral sensitivity to ultraviolet light and are known to react to signal colors and bright light sources, whereas humans do not have spectral sensitivity to ultraviolet light and would not have an overall awareness to the operation of a UVLED system. Strict regulations for species protection by the Endangered Species Act as well as general bird and bat mortality are guiding the permitting approval process for siting new wind farms (both on land and off-shore) and the operations of existing wind farms.The broader/commercial potential of this project is that it addresses a major problem affecting the permitting of new and existing wind farms. In addition, there are other numerous additional potential applications for the UVLED system. These applications include protecting airports? landing and take-off airspaces from bird strikes; integrating UVLEDs into airplane landing lights to protect against bird strikes; mounting on radio/TV and other towers to minimize bird mortality; mounting on large buildings where bird mortality is known to be high; protecting tar pits and similar hazards from bird mortality; and protecting bridges, rooftops, and similar spaces from the nuisance of bird droppings. Also, bats save farmers about $74 per acre by providing natural pest control. Pest control services provided by insect-eating bats in the U.S. likely save the U.S. agricultural industry at least $3 billion a year.