DiscoShield: A low-cost laser pest and bird deterrent system for orchards and farms

Eugenia Elikem Abena Kumaga クマガユ−ジニアエリケムアベナ

公開日時

2026/03/03 - PM12:32

更新日時

2026/03/03 - PM12:36

スライド概要

Pests such as birds and small mammals cause significant yield losses across orchards and farms in Japan. Studies indicate a 5% – 31% fruit loss depending on the crop and season, and an average of around 13% loss when no effective deterrents are used. Current laser deterrent systems are costly and require specialist installation.

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DISCOSHIELD Low-Cost Laser-Light Deterrent for Pests in Orchards and Farms (Concept Design) 1 2,3 1,2 Eugenia Elikem Abena 𝐾𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑎 , Arvin 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑎 , Kenji 𝐼𝑟𝑖𝑒 1 School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 2 School of Integrative and Global Majors, University of Tsukuba, 3 Social Impact Promotion Office, University of Tsukuba ABSTRACT Pests such as birds and small mammals cause significant yield losses across orchards and farms in Japan. Studies indicate a 5% – 31% fruit loss depending on the crop and season, and an average of around 13% loss when no effective deterrents are used. Current laser deterrent systems are costly and require specialist installation. Background • • • • • • • More than 50 apple varieties are cultivated in Fujita Apple Orchard in Asakawa, Daigo Town, Ibaraki Prefecture. Increasing wildlife pressure has called for sustainable methods to protect the orchard yield and fruit quality. Solution: DiscoShield Motion-activated RGB laser projector. Unpredictable, animated “chaotic” patterns to reduce habituation. Energy-efficient and easy to install. Target Users Apple and fruit orchard operators Small-to-medium scale farms Prototype • • • Issue Recurring damage from pest birds and mammals such as civets, boars, and bears cause significant fruit loss. Traditional deterrents such as fireworks and reflective cans lose effectiveness as animals habituate. Confirmed bear sightings in the region have added a major new risk. Motion detected System ON Laser pattern + sound 30 to 200 s active What We Need Next Pilot orchard site(s) for spring fruiting season. Laser safety/compliance guidance (Japan). Animal behavior advice to reduce habituation. Low-cost enclosure/weatherproofing design support. Sensor integration support (PIR/thermal/ LiDAR). • • • • • Standby reset (Lights and sound) Prospects Safety Considerations • • • • • • Eye-safe setup and beam orientation Motion-triggered activation only Signage and shutdown switch No direct exposure to workers/visitors/roads Controlled sweep area / height limits Compliance review before deployment Available Technology vs. DiscoShield AVIX automated laser (US, EU, Australia) 1,600,000 JPY DiscoShield ~15,000 JPY • Estimated DiscoShield cost is a preliminary bill-of-materials target (prototype-level, excluding mass production and long-term maintenance). • Commercial price shown is a public listed example for comparison; functional features differ. • • • • • Conduct extended field trials. Refine performance using field data and benchmarking. Improve weather resistance and durability. Add solar charging for portable power supply Explore using LiDAR and thermal sensing options Contact Eugenia Kumaga University of Tsukuba elikem.kumaga@gmail.com Acknowledgements We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Prof. Tofael Ahamed for guidance and Mrs. Fumiko Fujita (Fujita Apple Orchard), for allowing us to do experiments.