Man's best friend can sometimes be nature's worst enemy, and that's precisely why the United States Army has decided to implement robotic canines on some of its key air bases, offering protection from potentially expensive accidents.
With the rise of artificial intelligence and advancements in the world of robotics, we've seen plenty of companies implement futuristic mechanical systems into their workflow.
Even companies as big as Apple are looking to put humanoid robots on the manufacturing line, and innovative designers have revealed plans for gigantic automatous structures that could completely eradicate human workers.
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While we're still far away from futuristic robotic warfare shown in one famous game series, the US Army is still utilising mechanical mammals to protect its bases for a reason you might not expect.
Why does the US Army use robot coyotes?
As reported by New Atlas, robotic coyotes have been implemented in many of the biggest and most important air bases across America in order to scare away animals that might interfere with operations.
They aren't equipped with guns or any special weaponry to do their job, as their mere presence is enough to strike fear into everything from birds to rabbits and other habitat-seeking wildlife.
While their job is primarily to 'protect' the base, it's a two-fold solution as in scaring the animals away these robotic canines are also keeping them safe.
One of the biggest issues facing US Army air bases is the damage that animals can cause if they come into contact with planes, as they frequently are sucked into engines, slam into windscreens, and strike key control services.
This not only causes significant financial damage and operational disruption to the Army, but obviously is incredibly dangerous for the wildlife itself and something that all parties would rather avoid.
The purpose of the coyotes then is to scare these animals away, keeping them a safe distance from the operations of the air base while preventing any disruption from occurring.
Tests have been carried out at the Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida, Fort Campbell in Tennessee, and Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Florida.
How do the robot coyotes work?
Initial developments involving the famous Boston Dynamics team saw these coyotes take form as a quadruped robot, but these proved too slow to do the job properly so researchers have turned to a new solution.
Now, the robots simply sit on a go kart-like bed with four small wheels, and are capable of reaching max speeds of 20 mph. They might not look convincing to the human eye, but animals are seemingly none the wiser.
As to why the coyote has been chosen, research led by wildlife biologists Dr. Stephen Hammond and Dr. Jacob Jung has revealed that it's the foe that animals appear to respond most to, especially when shown in packs.
Any wildlife surrounding the air bases will likely stay well clear of these coyote mimics, ensuring that they remain unharmed and all operations can be carried out without disruption.