Bear-dar is an AI-driven radar system designed to give Arctic communities and nearby staff advance notice of approaching polar bears. Developed by the nonprofit Polar Bears International in collaboration with U.S.-based security firm Spotter Global, the system scans surrounding terrain to detect polar bears in areas where visual detection can be difficult, including at night and in harsh weather conditions.
One reported deployment involves an Arctic weather station where Bear-dar identifies a mother polar bear and two cubs moving toward the facility. After the detection, station personnel receive a warning that allows them to keep watch and move safely, including redirecting attention away from the animals and taking steps to manage the encounter.
Both sources describe the system as aimed at reducing human–polar bear encounters by providing additional time to respond. They also link the need for such tools to changing Arctic conditions, including the reduction of sea ice, which can increase the likelihood of bears coming closer to human infrastructure.
