Japanese farmers deploy robot wolf for crops’ protection


Farmers in areas near Kisarazu City in Japan have deployed robot wolf on their farms to prevent their crops from being ravaged by wild animals. The robowolf, named “Super Monster Wolf,” emits terrifying sounds to scare animals, and sometimes humans, from straying into the farms.
 
Robowolf
The farmers turned to technology after wolves went extinct in Japan in the early 1800s due to state-sponsored eradication campaign and populations of deer and wild boar rose sharply. The wild animals became a nuisance as they feasted on rice and chestnut crops.

Following the resounding success of the first official trial of the immobile robowolf, the manufacturers have decided to commence mass production in April. The robot measures in at 65 centimetres in length, nearly the same size as an actual wolf.

It also has tufts of hair and a set of white fangs. It uses solar-rechargeable batteries and detects intruders with infrared ray sensor. It has an effective radius of just about one kilometre, making it more effective than an electric fence, according to Chihiko Umezawa, of the Japan Agricultural Cooperative, in an interview with Chiba Nippo news.

The robowolf which costs about 514,000 yen (N1,719,690) uses a wide range of sounds, including a gunshot, a howl, and a human voice, to frighten away the would-be diner. However, the company has more affordable monthly leasing options.

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