Robo Jockey

[kurohinge1]

Child jockeys banned - robots get the hump (30 December 2004)

Robo riders (11 April 2005)

Child jockeys, banned in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from riding in camel races, are to be replaced by robot riders.

The first successful test has been carried out with a prototype mechanical camel jockey, the Gulf News reported.

The lightweight mechanical jockey receives orders from the instructor via a remote control system allowing the operator to guide the camel the same way as a human.

The experiment was carried out under the directives of UAE President Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UAE Vice-President and Ruler of Dubai Sheik Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Sheik Sultan Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Protocol and Guesthouse Department, said the mechanical jockeys would be used in the next racing season. The first batch of robot jockeys would arrive in August.

Children as young as three or four, mostly from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India and Sudan, have been used for the sport in the UAE as well as in other Gulf countries.

Where's the infants' union, to protect their livelihoods from this invasion of scab robots

Could this be the future for Asimo and the gang - Camel Jockeys

[Taro Toporific]

Yikes, I wonder what other "robots from Asian countries" are competing with Japan in this important robot market?!

Robots debut in UAE camel race
TECHNOLOGY | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz, July 19, 2005
Remote-controlled robot jockeys made their debut as camel riders in the United Arab Emirates on Monday evening, competing in a trial race after the Gulf Arab state tightened a ban on child jockeys.
Robots weighing up to 15 kg were dressed in the clothes of human jockeys during the race held in the capital Abu Dhabi, which officials described as "successful", the WAM news agency reported.... robot riders which receive orders from an instructor via a remote control system on the back of the camel.
UAE officials plan to order up to 10,000 robots from Asian countries and Japan at the cost of about $2,000 each....more...

[kurohinge1]

They appear to be being quite conservative with this first lot of robo-jockeys.



But why not be creative? I'd like to see some fun-looking robots up there - subject to copyright, etc, why not have Pikachu, Doraemon or a Garden Gnome piloting your camel.



Or what about "Chucky", a norwegian troll or a smurf as your jockey? The possibilities are limitless now.


Let's put the fun back into UAE Camel Racing !

[Taro Toporific]

They appear to be being quite conservative with this first lot of robo-jockeys.
Let's put the fun back into UAE Camel Racing !

"Conservative"? What have they done to that conservative robo-jockey's mouth and why are they all laughing?