Having a lightweight riders means everything when it comes to horse racing. Same concept applies to camel racing in quatar. Because of that, in the early 1990s, kids as young as 5 and 6 were replacing traditional jockeys in Qatar's camel races. After a huge uproar over child trafficking and intervention from Human Rights Watch, it became clear that it was time for a new solution.
The first robot jockey prototype was built in 2002 by a group called the National Robotic Jockey Committee but it fell off the camel's hump during testing and melted in the hot sun. Finally, a working model was released after years of rigorous testing and trial and error.
Weighing less than 7 pounds and not even one foot tall, this robo-jockey can whip the camel at different speeds and pressures and in different positions. The robot also has built-in speakers so that human trainers can encourage the animals by voice.
What's Driving This Trend
- Robo-jockey Technology
- Developing robotic jockeys with advanced features can revolutionize the camel racing industry globally.
- Automation of Racing Industries
- Automation can help horse and camel racing industries to grow further by increasing efficiency, accuracy, and safety of races.
- Robotics in Sports
- Incorporating robots in sports such as horse and camel racing can open doors for developing various robotic technologies and enhance sports experience for the audience.
Who This Affects Most
- Robotics Industry
- Robotics industry can explore opportunities in designing, building and upgrading robo-jockey prototypes.
- Sports Industry
- Sports industry can leverage robotic technologies to automate and optimize sports events for better performance, entertainment and safety of athletes and animals.
- Entertainment Industry
- Entertainment industry can use robotic technologies to enhance audience experience for unique, thrilling and safe sports events.
