In China’s Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, scientists carried out an unusual experiment in wildlife observation — they placed a robot animal among real antelopes, Pravilamag reports.
The “artificial antelope,” built on the X30 robot dog platform, looks almost identical to its real counterparts. Only upon closer inspection can one notice small observation cameras placed under its eyes. Nevertheless, the creature easily joined a herd at an altitude of 4,500 meters near Zonag Lake without startling the other antelopes. This allowed researchers to take high-quality close-up images.
According to the scientists, this method is much safer and more effective than previous observation technologies. In the past, they used telescopes and drones, but these often frightened the animals. The robot, however, managed to travel nearly three kilometers of mountainous terrain while monitoring the antelopes without disturbing them.
