Shear Magic Robot
Back in the late 1980s/early 1990s, researchers at the University of Western Australia attempted to create a robot that would shear sheep. Their project was cancelled before completion — but not before they developed a prototype which they called the Shear Magic Robot. You can see it in action in the video below.
In 1992, one of the researchers, James Trevelyan, wrote a book about the project, titled Robots for Shearing Sheep.
I'm not sure of the current state of robotic sheep shearing, but it must be more advanced than the 1990 state-of-the-art.
More info: authory.com
In 1992, one of the researchers, James Trevelyan, wrote a book about the project, titled Robots for Shearing Sheep.
I'm not sure of the current state of robotic sheep shearing, but it must be more advanced than the 1990 state-of-the-art.
More info: authory.com
Comments
I dunno. I've seen a documentary about itinerant (or maybe seasonal?) Australian sheep shearers. Those guys are *fast*! Accurate, too. I'm not sure a robot would be an improvement.
Posted by Richard Bos on 04/12/25 at 09:02 AM
Category: Robots | AI, Robots and Other Automatons | Farming | 1990s