Artificial Intelligence Developed to Keep Wildlife Away from Critical Infrastructure
Founded by Sara Nozkova, Flox Intelligence develops AI-powered devices to deter wildlife from critical locations such as railways and airports.
The startup Flox Intelligence, founded by Sara Nozkova, is developing AI-powered edge devices to prevent wildlife from coming into contact with trains, roads, and airports. The system uses species-appropriate sounds and computer vision to keep animals away from critical infrastructure.
Wildlife and Infrastructure Problem
The intersection of wildlife and man-made infrastructure leads to major disruptions, costs, and safety risks worldwide. While wildlife strikes in US civil aviation cause millions of dollars in damages annually, animal-related delays on railways in France affect thousands of train services.
A New AI-Powered Approach
Following her experiences in transportation and autonomous vehicles, Sara Nozkova realized that traditional methods such as sirens, lights, and fences were inadequate. Joining an AI laboratory at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Nozkova developed a system that can respond based on animal behavior.
Operating Principle of Flox Devices
Developed by Flox Intelligence, the edge devices process data directly on-site rather than in the cloud. Waking up with a motion sensor, the system recognizes animals through its camera and on-device models, emitting different species-appropriate sounds to prevent them from getting habituated.
Global Deployment and Business Model
Approximately 150 Flox devices are actively used across North America, Europe, and Australia in airports, rail systems, agricultural lands, and mining sites. Alongside hardware sales, the company offers an annual software and AI subscription after the first year.
Partnerships and Financial Goals
Having OEM partnerships with train manufacturers like Alstom, the startup deploys its software directly on vehicles. Raising a total of approximately $5 million from pre-seed and seed rounds, the company has opened a $10 million Series A round led by Unconventional Ventures and Tilia Impact Ventures.