Car accidents involving wildlife are a big problem in Colorado, with over 4,000 animal-related crashes every year, causing around $80 million in damages. Even though some roads have sensors to detect wildlife, they don’t work very well.
Now, four high school girls are trying to fix that. They’ve invented a portable device called Project Deer that can more accurately detect animals near roads.
As part of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, these young computer science engineers created a device that uses thermal imaging and AI. It spots animals like deer, bears, and foxes by detecting their heat in dark or low-visibility conditions, like forests near the road. While they made it to the national competition, they didn’t win, but their idea has a lot of potential.
The team leader, Siddhi Singh, explained in an interview that using infrared technology for wildlife detection is new. If their AI model can quickly interpret heat signatures, drivers could get real-time alerts through a small device mounted in their car. This alert would remind them to slow down and stay safe, reducing the risk of accidents.
Audi has already shown interest in Project Deer. If big car companies get involved, this technology could become a standard feature in cars, especially in wildlife-heavy areas like Colorado.
It’s inspiring to see high school students coming up with innovative solutions to real-world problems like this!
