Bird strategies for mid-air collision avoidance potentially applicable for machines

Birds in flight. Photo by José Manuel Arrazate. CC-BY-SA 3.0

Investigation of how birds avoid mid-air collisions during head-on encounters reveals two simple strategies for collision avoidance: each bird veers to its right and each bird changes its altitude relative to the other bird according to a preset preference. Both strategies suggest simple rules by which collisions can be avoided in head-on encounters by two agents. The findings are potentially applicable to the design of guidance algorithms for automated collision avoidance on aircraft.

Source: Strategies for Pre-Emptive Mid-Air Collision Avoidance in Budgerigars