Whether it is an adult or a child, it is difficult to resist creatures like dolphins.
This may be the smartest creature in the world, famous for being friendly to humans, appearing in many movies and TV dramas and books, and it is said to be able to treat autism.
Imagine getting close to a dolphin in the water, or even letting it swim with you.
However, you may not believe that the lively and naive dolphin in the picture above is actually a “robot dolphin.”
The girl who was swimming with the dolphins didn’t realize this either. She was surprised and said, “When I saw this dolphin for the first time, I thought it was real.” She also said, “I swim with the dolphin and imitate the rhythm of its body, just like we learned from the dolphin. It’s the same. I think it helps to learn more about dolphins and their lifestyle.”
This dolphin can swim and play with you, super cute
Because of their docile and tame personality, dolphins have always been the handlebars of Ocean Park.
In recent years, people have become increasingly aware that it is cruel to keep marine creatures such as dolphins and walruses that are supposed to live freely in the sea, especially in front of a group of audiences. With those rigid performances.
At the end of last year, the World Association for the Protection of Animals released the report “Behind the “Smile”-Global Dolphin Entertainment Industry Research”. The report showed that there are 3,603 cetaceans in 355 houses in 58 countries and regions around the world. Among the venues, dolphins account for more than 80%, and 93% of dolphinariums around the world have launched dolphin shows.
If there is such a dolphin, its appearance and posture are no different from that of a real dolphin. It can also swim freely, spray water, and even get in close contact with you. The only difference is that it is a robotic dolphin with no vital signs. Are you willing to accept it?
If these robotic dolphins appear in the aquarium, you won’t even be aware that they are fake. In this way, are the dolphins kept in captivity in the aquarium now expected to return to the sea?
Yes, a New Zealand company, Edge Innovation, really made a robotic dolphin, and it is likely to enter the Chinese aquarium. They also hope to sell 150 dolphin robots in the next three years.
After 20 years of innovation and development in robotics, it is finally possible to make realistic simulation animals. Special effects technician Walt Conti from Edge Innovations and Roger Holzberg, former vice president/creative director of Walt Disney Imagineering, designed and built this new robot dolphin in collaboration.
As mentioned above, its appearance and body are made according to the adolescent dolphin 1:1, even the touch is the same as a real dolphin, and it can swim in the water. Look, here is a little cute swimming towards you~
In fact, this little cutie is very heavy. This dolphin robot weighs 595 pounds, which is about 270 kilograms! It is heavier than adult dolphins. Generally, dolphins with a body length of 1.2-4.2 meters weigh about 23-225 kg.
I almost forgot, it also needs to be charged, let’s see how it lasts~
Generally speaking, the battery life of this robot dolphin is about 10 hours, but depending on its activity level, the battery life will vary slightly . It is understood that it can survive in a salt water environment for about 10 years, and new and improved models may be developed to replace it.
However, such a real robotic dolphin also has its shortcomings, that is, it has no camera and no sensor. It is essentially like a “remote control toy”. Its every move needs to be controlled by the operator, but the advantage of this is that the dolphin can be well-behaved. Interact with people without worrying about it going out of control.
In this way, raising a robotic dolphin in the aquarium in the future will not only satisfy children’s curiosity and get close to dolphins, but also allow real dolphins to return to the sea. “For those who care about marine animal protection, this is a dream that can come true.”-Roger Holzberg
Will appear in the China Aquarium in the future! Can interact with children up close
In recent years, the income of the Ocean Park industry has been sluggish.
According to Roger Holzberg, former vice president of Walt Disney’s Fantasy Engineering,
“The revenue of the ocean park industry has been declining for more than a decade. This is due to ethical considerations and the cost of live animals, but the public’s understanding and experience of these animals is still As strong as ever.”
Therefore, Holzberg believes that it is time to restructure the industry. Using robotic dolphins to replace real animals can be more humane and more profitable.
According to the “Guardian” report, the price of each of them is about 26 million U.S. dollars, while the list price of each real dolphins is about 27.39 million U.S. dollars, but the robotic dolphins have a longer lifespan and do not require expensive maintenance or cost. Calibrate the water temperature carefully .
In the long run, this robot is also more cost-effective to replace dolphins.
Moreover, this kind of robotic dolphins hardly wears, because it is not as loud as the Boston-powered robotic dog, and the audience can hardly detect it.
Li Wang, a business developer at Edge Innovation, a New Zealand innovation company, said that before the epidemic stopped work, China had established at least 30 aquariums, and a large Chinese company had already promised to replace real dolphins with robots.
This means that it may be the first to appear in China’s aquarium in the future.
According to the Guardian, Mike Wang, vice president of Red Star Macalline Group, stated that the company has sponsored the first phase of the development of robotic dolphin and is considering building a “laboratory” for its expansion in China. He said in a statement that he will “use robotic dolphins and other simulated animals in our new aquarium project” and is eager to distribute them nationwide.
In addition, animal rights advocates also agree with robotic dolphins. Elisa Allen, head of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in the United Kingdom, said in a statement that she hopes robot dolphins will “replace real dolphins in ocean parks around the world.”
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