Fido Learns to Fetch from Afar
狗狗学习从远处取东西回来
It may not be the bionic dog, but researchers are finding ways to augment man’s best friend through technology.
研究人员正在想方设法通过技术增强人类最好的朋友,可不是仿生玩具狗。
Canines already excel at guard duty, contraband detection and search and rescue, thanks to their keen senses. Typically they do their jobs after extensive training and often in the presence of a trainer.
由于其敏锐的感官,犬类已经练成了站岗,违禁品检测,搜索和救援等技能。通常情况下,他们经过拓展培训以及训练员的陪伴完成任务。
Now researchers want to see if there’s a way to remotely guide working dogs where rough terrain or other conditions don’t permit a handler to be nearby.
现在,研究人员想知道如果地形崎岖或者其他不允许指导者在附近的条件下,是否有一种方式能远程指导犬类工作。
Auburn University engineers devised a harness outfitted with a microprocessor, wireless radio, GPS receiver, and an attitude and heading reference system. Worn on the dog’s back, the system issued specific vibrations and tones that guided the canines from one waypoint to another.
奥本大学的工程师设计了一个带有微处理器,无线电,GPS接收器以及方向参照系统的装置。这个装置戴在狗的后背上,这个系统通过特殊的震动和铃声引导犬类从一个地点去往另一个地点。
On courses with only two waypoints, the dogs were nearly 98 percent successful. Luckily, no squirrels were present to skew the results. The research appears in the International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control.
在两点行进课程中,狗狗基本上有接近98%的成功率。幸运的是,没有松鼠出现来干扰结果。该研究发表在国际期刊《建模,识别与控制》上。
Now if only I could train my dog to let me back in the house when I forget my keys.
现在,要是我能训练我的狗狗在我忘记钥匙的时候给我开门就好了。
—Larry Greenemeier