This solar-powered SlothBot is here to help endangered plant species
Georgia Tech’s artificial sloth is joining the fight to save endangered plant species. You might be able to spot the robot’s large round head, bulging eyes and emoji-like smile during your next visit to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
The slow-moving, energy-efficient and solar-powered SlothBot hangs from the botanical garden’s trees. It monitors plants, animals and environmental conditions like carbon dioxide levels. Engineering students at Georgia Tech modeled the robot after real sloths who also lead low-energy lifestyles.
“SlothBot embraces slowness as a design principle,” professor Magnus Egerstedt said according to GovTech. “That’s not how robots are typically designed today. But being slow and hyper-energy efficient will allow SlothBot to linger in the environment to observe things we can only see by being present continuously for months or even years.”
The data the SlothBot will collect will help the conservation scientists at the Atlanta Botanical Garden improve their efforts. According to Emily Coffey, Vice President of Conservation and Research at the garden, the Earth is at a critical point. Over 25 percent of the world’s biodiversity is in danger of being lost thanks to climate change.
“What it allows us to do in science is really merge exciting technology in robots and exciting innovations that we’re making in conservation,” Coffey said. “What the SlothBot will help us do is collect data to better conserve those species.”
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