Control of Canine's Moving Direction by Using On-suit Laser Beams

Animal behavior can be controlled with non-invasive stimuli. Sounds, vibration, and lights are major non-invasive stimuli to lead animals such as canines, cats, and cows. Among them, a laser beam can be used to control motions of cats and canines without advance trainings. Previous studies reported that cats and canines responded motions of laser beam moved by human or electric devices. However, it has been still unknown whether a canine responds a laser beam from a device equipped on a canine suit (hereafter we call it on-suit laser beam). Here, we show that a canine's moving direction can be controlled with on-suit laser beams. We found that the high bright laser beam (1 mW) is suitable for the canine motion control at indoor environment. Brightness of laser beam was more important than color, and color difference (red, green, and blue) did not make a great difference in the canine's motion. We could control canine to move to left, right and forward direction using three laser beams that face to different direction. In our control system, a human operator can change the moving direction of the canine with a joy-pad. Our result demonstrates that the human operator guide the canine to the place where the canine can watch the target by using the on-suit laser beams. We consider that the on-suit laser beam based canine motion control is a starting point for expanding canine's working ability. Canines that wear the laser beam suit will explore the damaged building and capture photos of the damages instead of humans in search and rescue mission in the near future.