Robotics For Kids

Robotic Camels; Think Tank Discussion
By Lance Winslow

Recently our Think Tank was discussing robotic camels and how cool they are. It is amazing that robotics has come so far. The Japanese have a robot, which can run without falling over and now a Swiss Firm is making a Camel Riders, which can be used to race camels which is a big thing in the Middle East. Isn’t that something?

One of our members Swift found after doing some research that the country of Qatar has enlisted the Swiss firm K-Team to create robotic camel jockeys. A human Camel Jockey like a Race Horse Jockey must be small and lightweight to give the Camel a competitive edge. But it is often hard to find skillful young people who can do this. There was some abuse as some of the racing groups have gone to South Asia and Africa to borrow children for use in this sport. It's angered some folks, so they have turned to 35 pound robotic child jockeys. This is just one way robots are helping the human race and preventing kidnapping and eventually they may have robotic camels, too.

This was getting to be a lively topic at our think tank as I always thought Robot Wars was a good way to stop cock fighting, that seems mean to animals. Kind of cruel thing and with bird flu coming the last thing you want is bleeding chickens all over the place. If all these birds are culled, maybe that sport might stop. Although you never know with robotics, some one might create robotic chickens to fight; maybe the size of Big Bird?

Of course in the Middle East with all the fighting going on, the last thing you would want is a robot on a camel. Swift said that could be used as a weapon to attack coalition troops or God forbid a Hotel or Bus full of innocent civilians in a murderous and senseless act.

I cannot imagine the problems with something like that; a camel bomb? Talk about cruelty to animals, that is disgusting; although in the Russians attempted to use dogs in wartime, but when they got close to their targets sometimes the gunfire would scare them and they would run back and blow up and kill their masters instead. Dolphins have been used in wartime, but just to plant the detonation device and swim safely away. Apparently the United States has more noble sentiments towards animals than other cultures?