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Biologically inspired herding of animal groups by robots

Andrew King Orcid Logo, Steven J. Portugal Orcid Logo, Daniel Strömbom, Richard P. Mann, José A. Carrillo, Dante Kalise, Guido de Croon, Heather Barnett, Paul Scerri, Roderich Groß, David R. Chadwick, Marina Papadopoulou Orcid Logo

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Volume: 14, Issue: 2

Swansea University Authors: Andrew King Orcid Logo, Marina Papadopoulou Orcid Logo

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Abstract

A single sheepdog can bring together and manoeuvre hundreds of sheep from one location to another. Engineers and ecologists are fascinated by this sheepdog herding because of the potential it provides for ‘bio-herding’: a biologically inspired herding of animal groups by robots. Although many herdin...

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Published in: Methods in Ecology and Evolution
ISSN: 2041-210X 2041-210X
Published: Wiley 2023
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62182
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Abstract: A single sheepdog can bring together and manoeuvre hundreds of sheep from one location to another. Engineers and ecologists are fascinated by this sheepdog herding because of the potential it provides for ‘bio-herding’: a biologically inspired herding of animal groups by robots. Although many herding algorithms have been proposed, most are studied via simulation.There are a variety of ecological problems where management of wild animal groups is currently impossible, dangerous and/or costly for humans to manage directly, and which may benefit from bio-herding solutions.Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) now deliver significant benefits to the economy and society. Here, we suggest the use of UAVs for bio-herding. Given their mobility and speed, UAVs can be used in a wide range of environments and interact with animal groups at sea, over the land and in the air.We present a potential roadmap for achieving bio-herding using a pair of UAVs. In our framework, one UAV performs ‘surveillance’ of animal groups, informing the movement of a second UAV that herds them. We highlight the promise and flexibility of a paired UAV approach while emphasising its practical and ethical challenges. We start by describing the types of experiments and data required to understand individual and collective responses to UAVs. Next, we describe how to develop appropriate herding algorithms. Finally, we describe the integration of bio-herding algorithms into software and hardware architecture.
Item Description: Perspective
Keywords: bio-inspired, biomimetic, herding human–wildlife conflicts, sheepdog surveillance, unmanned aerial vehicles
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Funders: Office for Naval Research (ONR) Global Grant. Grant Number: N629092112030
Issue: 2