Animal and Robotics Interactions: Deploying UAV's to Enable Proximal Sensing and Management of Livestock

The interaction between animals and robotics is an emerging and exciting cross-disciplinary research area. There are numerous opportunities for robotics, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in particular, to impact how livestock are managed. This will have a significant impact both in terms of productivity and animal welfare outcomes. This project will specifically explore how UAVs might be applied to interact with livestock (particularly cattle and sheep) to measure and monitor their location, behaviour and biological state, as well as implement management interventions. Applicants are welcome from either the areas of robotics or animal sciences, although a combination of these fields would be preferable. This project will be undertaken within the framework of the CQUniversity developed DataMuster platform. This links research activities and the development of tools, systems and techniques for practical use on farms across Australia.