Volkswagen Australia, in collaboration with DDB Group, the University of Melbourne, and WIRES, has worked diligently over the past three years to develop an innovative device known as the ‘RooBadge’. The device operates by replacing the front badge on a Volkswagen vehicle and subsequently emitting a warning signal of the car’s presence to help deter Kangaroos.
The principal aim of the RooBadge is to decrease the number of collisions between cars and kangaroos, which currently make up approximately 90% of all on-road wildlife-related accidents in Australia. Through the connection to an in-car app, the RooBadge is able to calibrate a vehicle’s GPS coordinates with kangaroo distribution data. The disc, which measures 17cm in diameter, then emits an individual sound alert for the kangaroo species situated in the vehicle’s specific location.
The high-frequency audio signal comprises a blend of natural and artificial noises which are mixed in real time. Stage Four trials for the RooBadge have now been authorised by the University of Melbourne Office of Research Ethics and Integrity, marking a significant progression in the project.
Melbourne University’s Associate Professor Graeme Coulson highlighted the unique achievement of the RooBadge, saying that the device accomplishes what no other kangaroo deterrent tool has managed yet. He explained that the device will utilise technologies to adapt the sound deterrent based on GPS location. Some of these sounds will include dingo calls as well as warning noises made by birds and kangaroos.
Associate Professor Coulson said “It’s difficult to produce a single sound that will deter all kangaroos, because the species are different to each other. Using advancement in car technology we can change the sound deterrent by GPS location.
“We have worked on sounds that will be meaningful to Eastern Grey Kangaroos, things like dingo calls, alarm calls made by birds and the alarm thumps that kangaroos make to warn each other. We will then be able to tweak the sound for other species.”
John Grant, a spokesperson for WIRES stated that collisions with kangaroos are on the rise annually, and that the Easter holiday period is expected to bring about an increase in rescue calls for injured kangaroos and lost joeys. Grant thanked Volkswagen for the development and research put into the RooBadge.
Ryan Davies, the Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, stated the reason behind Volkswagen’s dedication to the RooBadge project was simply because it was the right thing to do. Davies highlighted the potential devastation a collision with a kangaroo might result in, especially if it leads to a front-on accident with another vehicle driving at rural speeds.
Mr Davies said “A collision with a ‘roo can be devastating. It is not easily forgotten once seen, and certainly not if experienced. Then there’s the possibility of a front-on collision with an approaching vehicle at country road speeds when one driver is trying to avoid striking a kangaroo. These are even more likely to have a fatal human outcome.”
Dr Helen Bender from the University of Melbourne, whose research played a significant role in the project, drew attention to the global issue of roadkill. Bender suggested that the findings from the RooBadge project could also be applied to deer, as they share similar physical attributes with kangaroos.
Dr Bender said “Roadkill is a problem all around the world. What’s interesting about deer relative to kangaroos is that they’re very similar in body size, head size, and ear size. What we know from science is that the ear shape in the head shape tells us that they probably have similar hearing. ranges. So, whatever we learn has transferability to the deer as well.”
Volkswagen’s innovative RooBadge is not only expected to save countless kangaroos, but also alleviate the substantial costs associated with these unfortunate accidents. For more information on the RooBadge, the public is invited to visit www.volkswagen.com.au/roobadge.
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