Japan Runs Out of Robot Wolves In Fight Against Bears (popsci.com)
(Saturday May 16, 2026 @03:00AM (BeauHD)
from the out-of-stock dept.)
- Reference: 0183231551
- News link: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/05/16/0322208/japan-runs-out-of-robot-wolves-in-fight-against-bears
- Source link: https://www.popsci.com/environment/japan-robot-wolf-army/
Japan's worsening bear problem has [1]created a shortage of handmade "Monster Wolf" robots , which are $4,000 solar-powered scarecrow-like devices with glowing eyes, sensors, and blaring sounds designed to frighten the animals away. "We make them by hand. We cannot make them fast enough now. We are asking our customers to wait two to three months," company president Yuji Ohta recently [2]told the AFP . Popular Science reports:
> First released in 2016 by the manufacturer Ohta, [3]Monster Wolf was originally designed to ward off the agricultural foes like boars, deer, and the island nation's Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and brown bear (Ursus arctos) populations. The creative solution quickly went viral for its red LED eyes and menacing fangs -- as well as its admittedly odd, furry pipe frame.
>
> Starting at around $4,000, each bespoke Monster Wolf is now equipped with battery power, solar panels, and detection sensors. Its speakers are programmed with over 50 audio clips including human voices and sirens audible over half a mile away. These aren't assembly line products, however. Each Monster Wolf is custom made, and Ohta simply can't keep up with the current demand.
>
> [...] Ohta told the AFP that amid the ongoing crisis, there has been "growing recognition" that Monster Wolf is "effective in dealing with bears." The main customer base remains farmers, but orders are also coming from golf courses and rural workers. Upgraded versions will soon include wheels to actually chase animals and patrol preset routes. There are also plans to release a handheld version for outdoor enthusiasts and schoolchildren. Until Ohta catches up with its orders, residents and visitors are encouraged to review the Japanese government's own [4]bear safety tips .
[1] https://www.popsci.com/environment/japan-robot-wolf-army/
[2] https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/japan/japan-robot-wolf-bear-attacks-ohta-seiki-b2975670.html
[3] https://www.robotatta.com/products/2010
[4] https://policies.env.go.jp/park/shiretoko/rausu-vc/guidetour/en/caution/
> First released in 2016 by the manufacturer Ohta, [3]Monster Wolf was originally designed to ward off the agricultural foes like boars, deer, and the island nation's Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and brown bear (Ursus arctos) populations. The creative solution quickly went viral for its red LED eyes and menacing fangs -- as well as its admittedly odd, furry pipe frame.
>
> Starting at around $4,000, each bespoke Monster Wolf is now equipped with battery power, solar panels, and detection sensors. Its speakers are programmed with over 50 audio clips including human voices and sirens audible over half a mile away. These aren't assembly line products, however. Each Monster Wolf is custom made, and Ohta simply can't keep up with the current demand.
>
> [...] Ohta told the AFP that amid the ongoing crisis, there has been "growing recognition" that Monster Wolf is "effective in dealing with bears." The main customer base remains farmers, but orders are also coming from golf courses and rural workers. Upgraded versions will soon include wheels to actually chase animals and patrol preset routes. There are also plans to release a handheld version for outdoor enthusiasts and schoolchildren. Until Ohta catches up with its orders, residents and visitors are encouraged to review the Japanese government's own [4]bear safety tips .
[1] https://www.popsci.com/environment/japan-robot-wolf-army/
[2] https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/japan/japan-robot-wolf-bear-attacks-ohta-seiki-b2975670.html
[3] https://www.robotatta.com/products/2010
[4] https://policies.env.go.jp/park/shiretoko/rausu-vc/guidetour/en/caution/
Hercules and the Hydra (Score:1)
There was a fun looking result deep in the foundations of mathematics. There's a few good youtube videos on it. The PBS one by Kelsey H. E. is my favourite.
It's called Hercules and the Hydra. Hercules is fighting the hydra, and based on all the available evidence, short of concrete mathematical proof, it appears Hercules is doomed. Yet it is a theorem that Hercules always wins. The war between greedy tech and nature is like that. Nature is slow compared to tech, but nature has a massively bigger 'context wi