A robotic cowboy has been developed at the University of Sydney in Australia. SwagBot can “herd cows, tow heavy trailers, and traverse rugged terrain.” The four-legged robot is now being taught to identify sick and lame animals by monitoring temperature and gait, and to monitor the status of the pasture. The potential for the robot lies in the Outback, where cattle stations (ranches) are so large that cowboys might only see some animals a few times a year.
Cattle-herding robot Swagbot makes debut on Australian farms. Alice Klein. New Scientist. July 12, 2016.
- Janet Wallace