How does the DroneMate bird deterrent drone deter birds?

DroneMate uses an onboard speaker system to broadcast deterrent sounds during patrol flights. The drone's movement combined with the audio disrupts birds' feeding and roosting behaviour, encouraging them to leave the protected area.

Does the DroneMate bird deterrent drone have a camera?

No. The DroneMate bird deterrent drone (model ST-001) has no camera or imaging sensor of any kind. It is a speaker-based deterrent platform only. Camera and mapping functionality is available on Skytronics' separate DroneMate SKY22 survey drone, not on the bird deterrent model.

What birds does DroneMate deter?

Farmers use DroneMate against common Australian crop pest birds such as cockatoos, corellas, parrots, ravens, and starlings across orchards, vineyards, grain crops, and nut farms.

Does DroneMate harm the birds?

No. DroneMate is a non-lethal deterrent — it relies on flight movement and audio, not any physical or harmful mechanism, to encourage birds to leave an area.

Is the Skytronics supported by an Australian company?

Yes. Skytronics is headquartered in Brookvale, NSW, and is the sister company of Cloudtronics Pty Ltd, an established Australian supplier of networking and industrial IoT hardware. Sales, technical support and after-sales service are delivered locally — not through an offshore reseller. We also maintain a non-China supply chain, which matters for government, defence and infrastructure procurement requirements.

Do I need a drone licence to fly the Skytronics bird deterrent drone?

Commercial drone operations in Australia require a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) and an operating certificate from CASA unless flown under an exclusion. We can guide you through the CASA requirements that apply to your intended use. See our Drone Rules articles for the latest information.

Which crops in Australia are most affected by bird damage?

Bird damage affects a wide range of Australian crops, but the most commonly reported are viticulture (wine grapes), orchard fruit (apples, pears, stone fruit, cherries), tree nuts (almonds, macadamias, pistachios, walnuts), grain and cereal crops, and sunflowers. Losses also extend to grain in storage, where birds contaminate stock with droppings and feathers as well as eating it directly.

Which birds cause the most crop damage in Australia?

Sulphur-crested cockatoos, corellas, galahs, and other cockatoo species are consistently identified as the most destructive crop pest birds in Australia, alongside starlings and the Australian white ibis in grain-growing regions. Cockatoos and corellas are known to damage orchards, vineyards, cereal crops, and pasture, while galahs are known for targeting almonds and grain crops in large, overwhelming flocks.

Autonomous Bird Deterrence.

Q: What is the DroneMate bird deterrent drone?

DroneMate is an autonomous bird deterrent drone built by Skytronics, the drone division of Cloudtronics, for Australian farms, orchards, vineyards, airports, and solar sites. It flies pre-set patrol patterns and uses onboard audio to scare birds away without harming them, reducing crop and infrastructure damage without netting, gas cannons, or manual bird-scaring labour.

Zero Manual Effort.

DroneMate is Australia's autonomous bird scaring drone an automated bird deterrent system that launches, patrols and recharges itself. Zero manual operation. Zero netting. Zero chemicals. Just results.

DroneMate · Live Telemetry MISSION ACTIVE

LIVE FEED GPS: –33.8°S 151.0°E

14.3m

Altitude

8.2m/s

Velocity

94%

Battery

Deterrence

Birds Detr.

12:42

ETA RTB

1,500 m

Patrol radius

15 min Fly

Auto-recharge

4

GNSS constellations

24*7

Autonomous patrol

25 m/s

Max wind resistance

–The Problem

Bird Damage Is Costing You Every Season

Australian farmers lose hundreds of millions each year to bird damage, while traditional deterrents fail to keep pace with adaptive bird behaviour.

Traditional solutions like netting, scarecrows, and gas cannons are costly to install, labour-intensive to maintain, and birds quickly habituate to them — rendering them ineffective within weeks.

$300M+

AUD in annual crop losses due to birds

Wine Grape Losses

Up to $50,000 per hectare in damage — entire harvests wiped out by cockatoos and corellas during critical ripening windows.

Grain & Nut Crops

Cockatoos, Corellas and Parrots systematically destroy grain and nut crops — stripping paddocks overnight before conventional monitoring detects activity.

Livestock & Biosecurity

Indian Myna birds contaminate water sources and spread disease, posing a direct biosecurity risk to livestock and threatening native species.

High Mitigation Costs

Netting alone can cost thousands per hectare to install. Gas cannons require manual reloading. And birds adapt to both — fast.

–The Solution

Meet
Bird Scaring Drone

DRONEMATE SKY001

01 / 06

The Machine Behind the Mission

-- How DroneMate Works as a Bird Scaring Drone

Simulating a Predator. Triggering a Natural Fear Response.

Drone launches at programmed patrol time

Flies predator-style patterns over the area

Onboard speaker plays Eagle, Hawk and Falcon calls

Returns to dock, recharges in ~40 minutes

Monitor via Dronemate portal

Where the Bird Deterrent Drone Works

Orchards & Vineyards

Birds cause yield losses of 20–60% during ripening windows in high-pressure seasons. Cockatoos and Corellas strip stone fruit, almonds and wine grapes overnight — before any manual response can be mounted. Netting costs $3,000–$8,000 per hectare to install, damages trees, and requires significant labour to maintain and repair each season.
For vineyard bird control in Australia, DroneMate patrols during the critical veraison window when silvereyes and starlings cause the most damage to wine grapes.

Farms & Grain Properties

DroneMate is the ultimate grain storage bird deterrent — protecting silos, bunkers and grain stockpiles from cockatoos and corellas around the clock. Broad acre farms such as Grain crops — wheat, barley, sorghum and sunflower — are systematically stripped by Cockatoos and Corellas. A single flock can decimate an entire paddock overnight. Conventional gas cannons require manual reloading, create noise complaints, and birds adapt to them within days.

Golf Courses & Sporting

Geese, Ibis and Ducks graze and damage fairways, greens and manicured lawns — leaving bare patches, compacted ground and droppings that create both hygiene and liability issues. Geese in particular can become aggressive towards players and groundstaff. Tennis courts suffer from Pigeons and Mynas nesting in structures and fouling surfaces.

Warehouses & Facilities

Pigeons, Mynas and Starlings nesting in commercial buildings and industrial facilities create biosecurity risks, contaminate food storage areas, block gutters and ventilation systems, and generate significant cleaning costs. Traditional spikes and netting are difficult to install at height and require ongoing maintenance. The drone patrols the perimeter on a programmed schedule — scaring birds before they establish nesting sites without any structural modification to the building.

Jetties, Marinas & Ports

Cormorants, Seagulls, Ibis and Pelicans roosting on boat decks and jetty structures cause thousands of dollars in cleaning costs per month. Bird droppings are highly acidic — attacking marine-grade paint, creating slip hazards, and contaminating surfaces. Regular pressure washing is a significant ongoing operational expense for marina operators and private boat owners.

— How it operates

Fully Autonomous. Set It Once.

Schedule your patrol

Set patrol zones and times in the dronemate portal. Target dawn, dusk, or any high-pressure window. The drone handles the rest automatically.

Autonomous flight

The drone launches from the base station and autonomously patrols the programmed zone — playing predatory bird species sounds through the onboard speaker system.

Detect & deter

As the drone enters patrol zones, the onboard speaker plays Eagle, Hawk and Falcon calls. Birds instinctively flee — without harm, without chemicals.

Auto-dock & recharge

The drone returns autonomously to the ST-Base Station. Ready for the next patrol in approximately 5 minutes. No battery handling required.

What Makes This System Different

Why autonomous bird deterrence

No Manual Labour

Fully autonomous — schedules, deploys, patrols and returns to dock without operator input

No Bird Nets

No installation cost, no tree damage, no labour for seasonal removal and reinstallation

No Chemicals

Humane, eco-safe deterrence — no pesticide risk to produce, livestock or native wildlife

No Habituation

Unlike a static gas cannon or scarecrow, the drone is a moving aerial presence — birds respond to it as a genuine threat each time it patrols

— Control methods

Two Ways to Fly. One Seamless System.

RC Controller

Physical radio controller with display for direct hands-on operation

Direct, immediate response
Dedicated display with live telemetry
Precise manual control for complex manoeuvres
Built-in failsafe redundancy

Online Portal

Web-based mission control accessible from any browser, any location

Monitor and control from any location remotely*
Live GPS tracking and telemetry
Schedule automated patrol missions
Flight history, logs, and data export
Multi-drone fleet monitoring

Switch Between RC and Portal Effortlessly

Use the RC controller for hands-on flying and the Dronemate portal for mission planning, scheduling, and remote monitoring. Both work together — giving you complete operational flexibility.

— Full specifications

Every Specification, Verified

Verified performance specifications. Contact us for full datasheet including environmental ratings and certification status.

⬜ Frame & Dimensions

Model nameDRONEMATE SKY001

Product codeST-001

Rotor typeQuadcopter

Maximum wheelbase400 mm

Working dimensions (unfolded)420 × 320 × 230 mm

⚖ Weight

Weight (with battery)4.5 kg

Maximum takeoff weight5.2 kg

✈ Flight Performance

No-load hover time15 min (5% SOC)

Max flight radius1,500 m

Max wind resistance25 m/s

Terrain follow range0.7 – 20 m

Autonomous altitude range−5 to 30 m

Obstacle avoidance speed≤ 5 m/s

🎯 RTK Hover & Landing Accuracy

Hover accuracy — RTK on (H)± 10 cm

Hover accuracy — RTK on (V)± 10 cm

Hover accuracy — RTK off (4 min)± 10 cm

Landing accuracy — RTK on± 30 cm

Landing accuracy — RTK off± 50 cm

🌤 Environmental

Operating temperature−10°C to 45°C

Operating humidity30% – 90% RH

Waterproof ratingIPX6K (IP67 for modules)

Anticorrosion ratingNSS24H

⚡ Motor & ESC

Operating voltage22 V – 25.2 V

Rated power600 W

Motor KV value900 KV

Stator size40 × 14 mm

🔄 Propeller

Propeller modelSTQ3115

Number of rotors4

Rotor materialAluminium

📡 Forward LIDAR

Max sensing distance12 m

Outdoor effective range40 m (70 klux, 10% reflectance)

Horizontal FOV resolution0.33°

Vertical FOV resolution0.27°

Mapping accuracy± 15 m

Max power550 mW

Laser classClass 1 — eye-safe

🔋 Battery — ST-Battery

ModelST-Battery

Capacity7,200 mAh

Weight760 g

Dimensions600 × 150 × 250 mm

Full charge voltage25.2 V

Charging current8 A

Fast charge time30 min (8A fast charger)

Wireless charge time40 min

Waterproof ratingIP65

Smart protectionShort circuit · Overcharge · Overcurrent · Fire

⚡ Base Station — ST-Base Station

Dimensions420 × 394 × 410 mm

Weight< 17.5 kg

Max charging power200 W (dual socket)

Input voltageAC 110 – 240 V

Output voltage25 V

Output current8 A

Top-up after one flight~ 5 minutes

Flat to full charge~ 60 minutes

Compatible batteryST-Bat 7200 mAh LiPo 6S

– Return on Investment

Calculate Your Savings

" ROI CALCULATOR "

Enter your farm parameters to see your estimated annual losses and how quickly DroneMate pays for itself.

ROI Estimator v2.0 / DroneMate

DroneMate Cost-Benefit Analysis

Based on ABARES Crop Loss Data

Scenario:

Farm Parameters

Farm Size (hectares) —

Primary Crop Type

Bird Damage Estimate —

Revenue per Hectare (AUD)

DroneMate System Cost

$25,500 AUD

Typically $17,500–$25,500 AUD (excl. GST) for one standard system
Valid for farms within 3 km flight range. Larger or multi-zone properties may need additional units, priced separately

Annual Op. Cost AUD / yr

Based on ABARES farm survey data and conservative Australian agricultural benchmarks. Not financial advice.

Enter your farm details
to see your savings

Annual Bird Damage Loss
—AUD / yr

            Recoverable Value with DroneMate
            Realistic
          
—AUD / yr

Net Annual Benefit

—AUD

ROI

—%

Payback Period

—mths

Recovery Efficiency

—%

3-Year Net Profit Projection

Get a Custom Quote from Skytronics →

Annual Revenue Comparison (AUD)

Without
DroneMate

With
DroneMate

Net Profit
Increase

Break-Even Timeline

NOW

Year 0Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4

Cumulative 3-Year Net Return

—

⚠ Important Estimates Notice

Results are indicative estimates based on average Australian farm data and typical DroneMate performance benchmarks.
Actual savings depend on bird pressure, local species, seasonal variance, and farm management practices.
Drone effectiveness may reduce over time if birds habituate to static patterns; varied flight routines are recommended.
The DroneMate system cost shown in this calculator ($17,500–$25,500 AUD) does not include GST. GST is charged separately in addition to the system price.
This calculator estimates cost and ROI based on one standard DroneMate system operating within its stated 3 km flight range. Larger properties, irregular layouts, or multiple coverage zones may require additional units; this changes total investment and is not reflected in the figures above.
This tool does not constitute financial or agronomic advice, or a formal quote. Contact Skytronics for a free, site-specific assessment and exact pricing for your property.

— Get in Touch

To book your Survey and demonstration, Hit

Talk to the Skytronics team about deploying the SKY22 DroneMate on your property. We'll walk you through coverage zones, flight scheduling, and what autonomous bird deterrence looks like on your specific site — no obligation.

Schedule Meeting

⚠️ Important — CASA Compliance Notice

All drone operations must be conducted in accordance with CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) regulations, or the relevant aviation authority in your region. Operators are solely responsible for obtaining all required approvals, licences and permissions before operating the drone. This includes compliance with CASA’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) framework and any site-specific restrictions.

Skytronics provides the electronic equipment only — regulatory compliance and operational responsibility remain with the operator. For current drone rules in Australia, visit casa.gov.au- Know your drone

Watch Drone in action

— Common Questions

FAQs