Japan trials laser-equipped drones to protect poultry from bird flu

NTT’s drone model BB102 features red and green laser beams that flash in patterns. The intermittent flickering is intended to prevent birds from becoming habituated—making the stimuli unpredictable and thus more effective in deterring them from landing near poultry houses or accessing feed areas.

According to multiple sources, the design is a collaborative effort between NTT e-Drone Technology, NTT East Japan, and Chiba Prefecture government agencies.

The timing of the deployment is critical. In 2025, the Chiba Prefecture alone witnessed the culling of more than 3.3 million birds during a severe outbreak—an incident that starkly illustrated the vulnerability of regional poultry operations to H5-type avian influenza.

Cost-sharing schemes 

To encourage farmer uptake, local authorities are reportedly designing subsidy or cost-sharing schemes to reduce the financial burden of adopting laser drone systems.

The expectation is that large-scale adoption of such automated deterrents could enhance biosecurity, reduce dependency on chemical or manual measures, and diminish the likelihood of virus spillover into domestic flocks.

Experts believe the broader deployment of laser drones could strengthen Japan’s resilience against future avian influenza outbreaks, protect poultry production, and reduce human health risks—especially for workers in close contact with birds.

If effective and scalable, the fusion of advanced technology and subsidy support may help transform bird-flu prevention practices in farm systems.