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Barking drones used on farms instead of sheep dogs

radionz.co.nz

51–60 of 76 posts

Re: Barking drones used on farms instead of sheep dogs

#51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

dogs barking at animals at close range is pretty darn loud. Much of the time the drone is pretty high up, which is relatively quiet at ground level. Especially in a rural setting, I don't think noise levels would be a big concern. That said, I think like many things, if reducing sound levels is important then over time it will be addressed - seems like it would be a good application of active noise dampening.

> Especially in a rural setting, I don't think noise levels would be a big concern. Animals are quite sensitive to noise.

that's true.

Re: Barking drones used on farms instead of sheep dogs

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most living sheep probably do know what a dogs bark sounds like, however

Would they respond similarly to a DJI blasting Slayer music? That would make me move, at least!

I’m not sure. Here’s some evidence that it doesn’t always work for cows:

https://youtu.be/l_APUXZQDkk

Re: Barking drones used on farms instead of sheep dogs

#53
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The sheep dogs protect the flock from predators. Non-violent drones that sound like sheep dogs will eventually be figured out by anything interested in eating the sheep.

And by sheep, surely! The dogs aren't predators, but (I believe) they do sometimes nip the sheep to let them know it's not just barking. The drone is going to need a cattle-prod or something too.

Well, that's basically what I was saying... remind me WHY are we entertaining the idea of replacing our dogs with tazer-drones?

Of all the things we could replace man's best friend with (literally born to do this job), does it really have to be Skynet?

Re: Barking drones used on farms instead of sheep dogs

#55

I was already on the fence about replacing humans with robots for e.g. driving, but dogs? Why would anyone want to replace dogs with robots? Worst trade ever.

Just imagine a future where all herding dogs have been replaced by robots. Dogs that have a built-in need to herd things, no longer having a job. They would tear the world apart in months burning off their energy.

What did all the horses do when the automobile came along?

Re: Barking drones used on farms instead of sheep dogs

#56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just imagine a future where all herding dogs have been replaced by robots. Dogs that have a built-in need to herd things, no longer having a job. They would tear the world apart in months burning off their energy.

What did all the horses do when the automobile came along?

They changed job to sticking things together ...

Re: Barking drones used on farms instead of sheep dogs

#57
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would anyone choose to live in Manhattan when their job is entirely remote?

I’m not sure what you mean. New York City is famously regarded as a great city for music, art, museums, theatre, cinema, comedy, architecture, food, nightlife, cultural diversity, and more. I have never heard the sentiment “my NYC job is so great, I just wish it were in another town.”

High rent like pizza said as well as crowdedness, having to choose between transit and driving in really bad traffic, general city complaints. I've used the subways in NYC a few times and I really wouldn't like having to do that all the time. There is some great stuff there like the Museum of Natural History but I think I'd rather live in a surrounding suburb or something, or Hawaii like the other commenter suggested.

On the transit subject, the lack of car reliance is nice in theory, but I honestly found my short experience of taking MTA subways around less enjoyable than driving. Very crowded, jerked so hard when it started moving that I almost fell over, and the walks between connections can be tiring if there's a rush to get there on time or it's a long distance (or both - running from one side of the PABT to the other isn't fun when you're not in great shape)

Re: Barking drones used on farms instead of sheep dogs

#58
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would anyone choose to live in Manhattan when their job is entirely remote?

some ppl like living in the city more than the country.

Even so, I'd think you'd choose a cheaper part of NYC to live in, just considering the rent.

Re: Barking drones used on farms instead of sheep dogs

#59
post #34

Just so that everybody is on the same page: https://youtu.be/IGo32RICjk8 The bar for sheep herding robots is ridiculously high. Border Collies are super smart.

Thank you.

My first thought when reading this was that sheep dogs, the really good ones, don't typically bark. They are very patient and quiet. Barking is likely to send the sheep in the wrong direction.

I owned a working cattle dog once (when I worked on a farm with cattle) and this dog did bark, too much! She wasn't a very good working dog because she'd spook the cattle with the barking.

Ultimately, I'm not convinced a "barking" drone is really going to be very effective.

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