NEWS · B2 Level - Part 1

Robot cattle herder

Meet SwagBot, an AI-powered robot that could potentially transform cattle farming.

Level: B2 · 16 sentences

Transcript

1. Meet SwagBot, an AI-powered robot that could potentially transform cattle farming.
2. Researchers at the University of Sydney are betting on it to make the industry smarter, greener, and more efficient.
3. When SwagBot was first launched in 2016,
4. it was a simple herding robot built to handle uneven terrain.
5. Now, packed with sensors, AI, and machine learning,
6. SwagBot can check the health, type, and density of pastures.
7. And even keep an eye on the cows' health.
8. Using data to autonomously herd cattle to the best pastures,
9. it can move them before land is overgrazed and soil becomes degraded.
10. Farmers constantly assess how many animals their land can support.
11. However, many have little control over where the animals graze within large enclosed areas.
12. And the issue is that overgrazing can lead to poorer soils that support less plant and animal life.
13. Australia, one of the world's top beef exporters with about 30 million cattle,
14. faces challenges such as labor shortages, poor pastures, and environmental concerns.
15. And Professor Sukkarieh believes robotics and automation could be key to overcoming these challenges,
16. making farming more efficient and environmentally friendly.