JERUSALEM: A new vest for dogs developed by researchers at Israel’s Ben-Gurion University allows users to transmit communications and commands to their canines via haptic technology.
Haptic technology simulates the the senses of touch and motion through vibrations, enhancing the remote control of a device, or in this case, an animal. This can be valuable in situations where the user is not directly able to interact with or feel physical objects.
The modified vest contains four small vibrating motors positioned on the dog’s back and sides that can be used to train or direct dogs to respond to different vibrations sent via wireless remote control. The handler is able to elicit different commands by controlling the which motor is engaged and the duration of vibrations.
This type of technology may prove useful in the future for delivering remote commands to dogs for use in search and rescue operations, assisting disabled handlers, and other situations for service animals.
(Agencies)
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