Introduction: Deer UV Lights
There are an estimated 1.23 million deer vehicle collisions in the US each year. These accidents cost Americans almost $5 billion and are responsible for almost 200 deaths annually.
Because deer see diffently than humans, they are more likely to run at your car after being caught in your headlights because they panic. They are blinded by such high intensity light. By wrapping UV Lights around the front of your car, you allow the deer to see you from much farther away and give them more time to see your car as a threat worth avoiding.
For our FLL Robotics Competition Project, our robotics team (Insert Name Here #22525) has come up with a UV Light Strip design that we feel deer can see better and will help them avoid cars.
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
Start with a waterproof UV tape light. Make sure to choose one that has adhesive on the back and an adapter connected. We used one like this from Amazon. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CX7019M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Next you will need a 9volt adapter to plug into you car. Make sure it is long enough to fit from your grill all the way through your dashboard and can be plugged into your charging port. We used one like this.
You will also need at least 2 LED 2 pin 3528 connectors to connect your strips on either side where you will cut. We used these.
Step 2: Making the 1st Cut
Take the adapter on the lights and feed it through the grill on the drivers side. Measure the amount of lights you need from that point to the end of your driver's side front bumper, making sure that you don't get too close to your tire. Cut the LED strip there and remove the adhesive backing and attach it to your bumper.
Step 3: Adhering the Lights
Next, measure a section of lights from one end of the bumper to the other again keeping a safe distance from the tires. Cut this section and adhere it just below the first strip. Then measure a section of lights from the adapter that has been fed through the grill over towards the passenger side of the bumper. Cut and adhere this strip level with the first.
Step 4: Connecting the Strips
Next take 2 LED Connectors and connect the top strips to the bottom strips on either side.
Step 5: Wiring the Power Cord
You now want to get into your vehicle with the 9 Volt power adapter. Plug it into the car's charging port and run the wire through a separation in the dashboard toward the engine. The placement of this will differ from car to car.
Step 6: Connect Your Wires
Now connect the light adapter to the power adapter making sure to keep the wires tight enough to not touch the engine. Any slack should be pulled through the dash and rest inside the car.
Step 7: UV Deer Lights
You now have UV lights around your bumper that will enable deer to see you from far away. You have outlined your vehicle to make sure the deer sees how big your car is and hopefully will interpret it as a threat. The more time a deer has to make a decision to stay away, the better.
Step 8: Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to view our innovative solution to the deer-collision problem.
Sincerely,
FLL Team Insert Name Here #22525