Now, scientists are using robotics to assess animal behavior: Here’s how 

Ever since the time when research on animal behaviour started, scientists have applied several avantgarde techniques to assess their social interactions. It could be anything from honeybees dancing to guide their mates towards new food sources or elephants coming out to help others during crisis. In order to study and have a fresher insight into the world of animal social life, scientists for some times now have been incorporating robotics. 

Needless to say, the STEM world has advanced to a whole new level with engineers developing robots that are real enough for the animals to respond to without risking their lives in any way. Here are two ways researchers have been using robotics to study animal behaviour.  

Robofish 
A Robofish is a 3D replica of any kind of fish set upon a magnetic pedestal controlled by a hidden motorized unit. It interacts with real fish and responds to them with the help of two video cameras, one installed on it and the other on the remote control. This is how scientists try and understand which fish leads the school and whether it depends on just size or other factors are also involved.  

Former studies have suggested that the larger the size of the fish, the more influence it will have over its peers. But that’s not entirely true. Like humans, a fish’s behaviour too evolves with time. Therefore, older and larger fish may not be always able to control the behaviour of smaller fish. This is where Robofish comes in as it can change its size as per need and assess the situation. In fact, it was through Robofish, that scientists figured out that politeness is as important as size in the case of fish leadership.  

Robotic falcon 
Not many of us know that a flock of pigeons, if suddenly attacked by a falcon, takes evasive action. This means, all individual pigeons try to shift to the middle of the flock to escape the claws of the falcon, so that the predator focuses on someone else. This is called the “selfish herd” hypothesis. But scientists have often had a hard time proving it considering falcons strike differently every time, changing angles, coming from higher or lower altitude and remaining unpredictable for better chance at prey.  

This is where the robotic falcon comes into play. By changing its angles and distance, scientists try to assess the change in evasive behaviour of the pigeons and whether or not they share a herd mentality. In fact, scientists have even tried releasing a robotic falcon first and then releasing a flock of pigeons within a mere distance of 10 metres and seeing what they do to save themselves in such dire circumstances. These robotic falcons have a lifelike appearance and are featured with propellers and GPS system. In fact, a recent study totally nullifies the selfish herd hypothesis and posits pigeons as united creatures who, instead of taking evasive action, flies faster than usual, changing their flight route every now and then.