DEVELOPMENT OF A SOLAR-POWERED AUDIBLE BIRD REPELLER SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Authors

Keywords:

Bird Repeller, Solar-powered System, Power Distribution Outages, PIR Sensor, Audible Deterrence

Abstract

Bird activities on power distribution networks in Lagos State, Nigeria causes frequent power outages, equipment degradation, and substantial economic losses through electrocution, nesting, contamination, and interference with conductors and poles. This paper presents the development of a cost-effective, solar-powered, firmware-controlled audible bird repeller system designed to clear the overhead power corridor. The system architecture integrates a Passive Infrared (PIR) sensor for motion detection, an ATmega328P microcontroller, a 12 VDC wailing siren for auditory deterrence, and an MG995 servo-driven moving bar for physical displacement. Off-grid energy sustainability is achieved using an 18 V, 20 W solar panel, a 12 V 7 Ah rechargeable battery, an LM2596 DC-DC buck converter for optimal charge regulation, and a transistor-driven forced-air cooling system for thermal management. Following schematic capture and validation in Proteus software, the system was fabricated on custom Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) and field-tested. Simulation results confirmed precise circuit triggering, establishing a 10.0 VDC output to the alarm loop upon sensor activation. Field evaluations verified that the device reliably detects avian targets within a 7-meter range at a 120° viewing angle, initiating synchronized auditory and mechanical deterrence for approximately 20 seconds per detection cycle. Empirical field testing on both ground levels and active utility poles demonstrated the effectiveness of the device. This sensor-driven, automated alternative to traditional mechanical fixtures offers a scalable solution to minimise avian-induced outages and improve supply reliability in tropical urban distribution networks.

Author Biographies

Samson Agboibon Akanni

Printing Strategic Business Unit

MELODI. A. O

Professor Adegoke Oladipo Melodi is a distinguished academic and expert in Electrical Engineering, currently serving as a Professor at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). With a career spanning over two decades, he has established himself as a key researcher in power systems engineering, specializing in transmission system reliability, distribution network analysis, and renewable energy integration in Nigeria. He is a Member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), and a Senior Member of IEEE. As of December 2025, he was appointed a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE). He has served as the Acting Head of Department for Electrical and Electronics Engineering (2009–2013), Sub-Dean of the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology (2007–2009), and presently Dean of the School of Electrical Systems Engineering. He has mentored numerous academics and supervised over 60 undergraduate projects, 36 MEng, and 5 PhD theses.

ALE. T. O

Professor Ale Thomas Olabode is an esteemed academic and authority in the field of Electrical Engineering. He holds a professorship at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). A member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), he has also taken on the role of Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at FUTA. Throughout his career, he has guided numerous scholars and overseen a variety of undergraduate projects, MEng dissertations, and co-supervised PhD theses.

Dimensions

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Published

18-07-2026

How to Cite

DEVELOPMENT OF A SOLAR-POWERED AUDIBLE BIRD REPELLER SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA. (2026). FULafia Journal of Science and Technology , 10(2), 190-196. https://doi.org/10.62050/fjst2026.v10n2.829

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 2 (2026): Fulafia Journal of Science and Technology (FJST)

Section

Engineering
Copyright & Licensing

How to Cite

DEVELOPMENT OF A SOLAR-POWERED AUDIBLE BIRD REPELLER SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA. (2026). FULafia Journal of Science and Technology , 10(2), 190-196. https://doi.org/10.62050/fjst2026.v10n2.829

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