Flox Intelligence is building AI to keep wildlife away from trains, airports, and roads
Flox Intelligence is developing an AI-based system to prevent wildlife-infrastructure collisions, such as animals wandering onto train tracks or airport runways. The founder, Sara Nozkova, aims to move beyond traditional deterrents like sirens and fences by using AI that understands the complex, unpredictable nature of wildlife.
Why it matters
Wildlife-infrastructure collisions cause significant economic damage and safety risks globally, and this technology offers a more adaptive, non-invasive solution to a persistent transportation problem.
When I was eight, I remember our train to Mumbai ground to a halt with a great noise. When we started moving again, a good eight hours later, someone pointed out a mangled tail, of all things, hanging from a branch close to the tracks.
The train, you see, had apparently hit a wild bison at full speed, and the impact damaged the engine so badly that it had to be towed away for repairs. For a long time, I thought such things only happened in places like rural India, but I learned a few years ago that wildlife and infrastructure do not mix anywhere on the planet.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in