Scientists Create Backback That Can Make You Talk With Your Dog

Harness can sense the animal's movement
and sounds it makes
Speakers and vibrating pads in the harness
also allow owners to 'talk back' to their
animals
Could be used to train pets
Also set to be used in guide dogs and other
working animals
It could be the ultimate gadget for dog owners - a hi-
tech back for their pet that lets them communicate.
The sensor-packed harness can sense the animal's
movement, and the sounds it makes, letting the
owner know how they feel.
Speakers and vibrating pads in the harness also
allow owners to 'talk back' to their animals.

HOW IT WORKS
The platform itself is a harness that fits comfortably
onto the dog, and which is equipped with a variety
of technologies.
Wireless sensors can determine when they're sitting,
standing, running, etc., even when they're out of
sight.
The team developed software to collect, interpret and
communicate those data, and to translate human
requests into signals on the harness through speakers
and vibrating motors.
Researchers say the system could
be particularly useful for guide dogs and other
working animals.
They say it has applications in everything from
search and rescue to service dogs to training pets.
'We've developed a platform for computer-mediated
communication between humans and dogs that
opens the door to new avenues for interpreting dogs'
behavioral signals and sending them clear and
unambiguous cues in return,' said Dr. David Roberts
of North Carolina State University, who developed the
system.
'We have a fully functional prototype, but we'll be
refining the design as we explore more and more
applications for the platform.'
The platform itself is a harness that fits comfortably
onto the dog, and which is equipped with a variety
of technologies.
'There are two types of communication technologies,'
says Dr. Alper Bozkurt, an assistant professor of
electrical and computer engineering at NC State and
co-lead author of a paper on the work.

'One that allows us to communicate with the dogs,
and one that allows them to communicate with us.'
'Dogs communicate primarily through body
language, and one of our challenges was to develop
sensors that tell us about their behavior by observing
their posture remotely,' Roberts says.
'So we can determine when they're sitting, standing,
running, etc., even when they're out of sight – a
harness-mounted computer the size of a deck of
cards transmits those data wirelessly.
'At the same time, we've incorporated speakers and
vibrating motors, called haptics, into the harness,
which enable us to communicate with the dogs,'
Roberts adds.
'We developed software to collect, interpret and
communicate those data, and to translate human
requests into signals on the harness,' says Rita
Brugarolas, an NC State Ph.D. student and co-
author of the paper.
The technology also includes physiological sensors
that monitor things like heart rate and body
temperature. The sensors not only track a dog's
physical well-being, but can offer information on a
dog's emotional state, such as whether it is excited or
stressed.
These technologies form the core of the platform, but
it can be customized with additional devices
depending on the specific application.
'For example, for search and rescue, we've added
environmental sensors that can detect hazards such
as gas leaks, as well as a camera and microphone
for collecting additional information,' Bozkurt says.
'We're also very interested in addressing stress in
working dogs, such as guide dogs for the blind,'
saysSean Mealin, an NC State Ph.D. student and co-
author of the paper.

'We're reliant on the physiological and behavioral
sensors to give us a picture of the dog's mental and
emotional state.
'This can help handlers identify and mitigate stress
for the dogs, improving the length and quality of a
dog's life,' Mealin adds.
'It's an important issue.
'Particularly because guide dogs are bred and
trained not to display signs of stress in their
behavior.'
In addition to disaster response research, the research
team has already done work that uses the platform
to assist in dog training. They are now in the early
stages of miniaturizing the technologies and
improving the physiological sensors for use in
animal shelters and hospitals.
'This platform is an amazing tool, and we're excited
about using it to improve the bond between dogs
and their humans,' says Dr. Barbara Sherman, a
clinical professor of animal behavior at the NC State
College of Veterinary Medicine and co-author of the
paper.

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