For years, Japanese poultry farms have trusted networks, periodic cleaning and access controls to keep the avian flu. But in the Japanese prefecture of Chiba, national leader in egg production, the authorities and the NTT group are about to add a different ally: drones equipped with beams of light. From mid -October, these devices will be used to scare away wild birds that could carry the virus, in an initial deployment that seeks to add a technological layer to traditional prevention measures.
The new deployment comes after one of the toughest seasons remembered the sector. Between January and February 2025, Chiba’s Prefecture had to sacrifice more than 3.3 million birds because of the avian flu, in a year in which 51 outbreaks were recorded in 14 prefectures throughout the country. Networks, disinfection and access controls had contained the infections for years, but it has been shown that the virus can be leaked by multiple routes, from migratory birds to small animals or even staff clothes.
A novel system. The project is promoted by NTT, the Japanese telecommunications and technology giant, through its NTT E-Drone Technology subsidiary. This company, dedicated to aerial robotics and automation, collaborates with the Government of the Prefecture of Chiba and with NTT EAST in a joint plan to reinforce biosafety in the poultry sector. The initiative combines the experience of the group in connectivity and remote control with the needs of the Japanese field, especially beaten by the last avian flu sprouts.
The chosen drone, called BB102, has incorporated the Kuruna Move device, developed by the Chiki Soken Japanese association, a unit that emits red and green beams to keep wild birds away. Its effectiveness is based on an instinctive reaction: birds interpret those lights in motion as a threat. In addition, the system generates a random light pattern with flickering effect (Speckle) to prevent animals from getting used.
How it unfolds. In the deployment planned in Chiba, BB102 drones will be used to patrol the critical areas of the farm, such as roofs, patios or feed deposits. The operator defines the flight perimeter on the transmitter screen and the drone executes the route autonomously, maintaining the necessary altitude to cover the entire enclosure. Its autonomy of about 25 minutes per flight allows periodic missions to be programmed, adapting to the schedules with the greatest presence of wild birds.
Air use provides a clear advantage over fixed systems: drone can reach high points or recesses where traditional barriers are not effective. In addition, being a mobile and programmable device, you can modify your route as the bird’s flight patterns or the ground configuration change. The whole process is controlled from land, without direct intervention on animals and without generating noise or using chemicals.
What do we know that works. The use of lasers as a deterrent element does not start from zero. Before the deployment in Chiba, the Kuruna Move device was tested in the Kanagawa prefecture, where it managed to keep the crows away from several farms. The technicians verified that the birds immediately reacted to the red and green flashes and that the effect was maintained over the days thanks to the random movement of the light. Technology proved to be effective without generating noise or using chemicals.
The system seeks to reduce the risk, not eliminate it. The field evaluation in Chiba will allow measuring its performance in real production environments, with different species and climatic conditions. If the results are confirmed, the combination of drones and lasers could be integrated as another layer within the usual biosafety strategies, together with the networks, disinfection and access control.
Costs and aid. Implementing this technology requires significant investment in equipment, maintenance and training. To facilitate its adoption, the Chiba government activated in July a specific subsidies program with a endowment of 20 million yen, about 125,000 euros, destined to cover up to 33% of the system’s introduction cost. Aids are designed for groups of producers or cooperatives, which can share the equipment and reduce operating expenses.
The economic approach starts from a preventive logic: invest before to avoid major damage later. Each episode of avian flu is very high economic losses and the destruction of hundreds of thousands of birds, so that investment in drones and lasers is interpreted as a long -term savings measure. In addition, automation reduces the need for personnel for deterrence and improves the efficiency of daily surveillance.
Model for other regions. Those responsible for the project have indicated that they will study their adaptation to different environments. Among the possible applications are other agricultural areas and, where appropriate, sensitive spaces where the presence of birds represents a risk.
Images | WorldOfSoftware with Gemini 2.5 | NTT Group
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