Latest news with #LianXinming
Borneo Post
21 hours ago
- Science
- Borneo Post
Robotic guardian joins Tibetan antelope herd
A specialist in fur simulation and animal specimen creation repairs a robotic Tibetan antelope in the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve, northwest China's Qinghai Province in July 2025. – Xinhua photo XINING (Aug 17): As the afternoon sets in, the sun begins to warm the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, making it the peak time for Tibetan antelopes to search for food. After a night without eating, these creatures dot the hillsides near Zonag Lake in the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve. A slightly larger animal stands out on the grass. Unlike the others, which have lowered their heads to graze, this 'antelope' holds its head high, moving carefully toward the herd. It is a robotic antelope, which, from a distance, looks just like the real antelopes nearby, sharing the same fur color and body shape. But up close, a small, hidden camera can be seen beneath its eyes. At first, the real antelopes seem curious about the newcomer, pausing to look at the mechanical stranger. However, the robot does not scare them away. Gradually, the unique robotic antelope is accepted into the herd to roam alongside thousands of animals in the wilderness. The robot undertook trial operations in late July in Hoh Xil, which has an average altitude of more than 4,600 meters. The environment is cold and oxygen-poor, making it almost impossible to sustain human life there. At the same time, it is also widely recognized as a 'kingdom of animals' due to its rich and diverse wildlife. Its rare species, including Tibetan antelopes, serve as important ecological indicators of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Every summer, thousands of female Tibetan antelopes gather at Zonag Lake to give birth and care for their young. Scientists say that the robotic Tibetan antelope has overcome the established limitations on the distance from which humans can observe wildlife. It will provide more accurate, reliable images and data for the study of Tibetan antelope behavior in China. A technician tests a robotic Tibetan antelope in Golmud City, northwest China's Qinghai Province on May 22, 2025. – Xinhua photo Lian Xinming, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology who participated in the recent trial, said that Tibetan antelopes are very sensitive, and that it is difficult for people to get close to them. 'They will run away as soon as they see someone from a distance – even 500 to 800 meters away,' Lian told Xinhua on Monday. 'A close encounter can induce stress, and can even cause miscarriage in pregnant females.' Previously, scientists relied on telescopes, cameras or other indirect methods like studying feces or carcasses to monitor the antelopes. Drones, though useful, can also startle the animals. Lian said that robots could be a promising solution to study animals more closely without causing disruption. The idea to create a robotic Tibetan antelope was first proposed in February this year. A group of humanoid robots performing a dance on the televised 'Spring Festival Gala' inspired the zoologists to incorporate robot technology into their research. As a result, Lian's team partnered with DEEP Robotics, a Hangzhou-based company known for its innovation in robotics, to develop the project. According to Qian Xiaoyu, a senior brand marketing manager at DEEP Robotics, the robotic antelope is powered by the X30 quadruped robotic dog. 'This technology is designed to perform in hazardous, complex environments, including extremely harsh terrains,' Qian said. 'The robot aims to assist or even replace humans in patrol and rescue tasks.' To make the robot appear as lifelike as possible, the team collaborated with specialists in fur simulation and animal specimen creation. Based on the antelope's skeletal structure and real fur samples provided by scientists, they dressed the robot to resemble its living counterparts closely. During its trial, the robotic antelope successfully navigated a distance of 2 kilometers across open areas in the nature reserve, overcoming various obstacles such as slopes, potholes and muddy wetlands. It integrated into a herd, carrying out close-range observation and non-intrusive filming tasks. Lian said that he had hoped the robot would capture dramatic moments such as antelopes giving birth. A robotic Tibetan antelope moves toward a herd of antelopes in the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve, northwest China's Qinghai Province in July 2025. – Xinhua photo However, during the three-day experiment, the footage recorded by the robot was quite simple – it only showed the antelopes grazing peacefully. But the scientist has not lost heart. 'Even when the exploration does not yield the expected results, it provides invaluable experience,' Lian said. He believes that robotics technology holds immense promise for future wildlife studies and conservation efforts, offering a glimpse into how innovation can support the protection of endangered species in remote and challenging environments. 'The ultimate goal is to ensure the safe migration of Tibetan antelopes, with minimal human interference,' he said. – Xinhua China robot Tibetan antelopes Xinhua
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Science
- Sydney Morning Herald
Chinese robot antelope deployed to infiltrate herd
From a distance, you might be fooled into thinking this rare Chinese antelope is real – until it starts walking, when its rigid gait betrays it as motor and metal masquerading as flesh and blood. But luckily this doesn't seem to put off the herds of real animals on the rugged tundra where the robot ungulate has been deployed. The Xinhua news agency reported that, having successfully joined a group, the cyber antelope is doing its job of gathering valuable information about the migration, feeding and mating behaviours of the endangered species endemic to Tibet. Developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Hangzhou-based DEEP Robotics, the robot antelope is equipped with 5G connectivity and artificial intelligence vision systems, enabling real-time monitoring of its environment. Its handlers hope it will succeed where humans and camera traps struggle in gathering more precise and reliable footage and data to better protect the wildlife. The antelope can operate at a distance of up to two kilometres in open terrain and navigate rugged slopes and muddy wetlands, Meng Yuan, a DEEP Robotics representative, told the Global Times on Monday. Lian Xinming, the project's head and a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told Xinhua: 'The robot's AI vision recognition system can capture real-time data on the antelopes' migration patterns, feeding behaviours and the growth of their young. 'This data is then transmitted via 5G networks to a backend platform for instant analysis, generating detailed reports that offer valuable insights for scientific research and conservation efforts.'
The Age
3 days ago
- Science
- The Age
Chinese robot antelope deployed to infiltrate herd
From a distance, you might be fooled into thinking this rare Chinese antelope is real – until it starts walking, when its rigid gait betrays it as motor and metal masquerading as flesh and blood. But luckily this doesn't seem to put off the herds of real animals on the rugged tundra where the robot ungulate has been deployed. The Xinhua news agency reported that, having successfully joined a group, the cyber antelope is doing its job of gathering valuable information about the migration, feeding and mating behaviours of the endangered species endemic to Tibet. Developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Hangzhou-based DEEP Robotics, the robot antelope is equipped with 5G connectivity and artificial intelligence vision systems, enabling real-time monitoring of its environment. Its handlers hope it will succeed where humans and camera traps struggle in gathering more precise and reliable footage and data to better protect the wildlife. The antelope can operate at a distance of up to two kilometres in open terrain and navigate rugged slopes and muddy wetlands, Meng Yuan, a DEEP Robotics representative, told the Global Times on Monday. Lian Xinming, the project's head and a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told Xinhua: 'The robot's AI vision recognition system can capture real-time data on the antelopes' migration patterns, feeding behaviours and the growth of their young. 'This data is then transmitted via 5G networks to a backend platform for instant analysis, generating detailed reports that offer valuable insights for scientific research and conservation efforts.'
