A collaborative research group led by Associate Professor Kazunori Ohno of Tohoku University has succeeded in developing a cyber suit that estimates the emotions of dogs in real time.It is expected that it will be attached to a disaster rescue dog to grasp the pleasant and unpleasant emotions of the dog, and to help improve the efficiency and reliability of the search for victims at the disaster site.Other researchers from Azabu University, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kyoto Women's University, etc. participate in the group.
In a large-scale disaster, finding a house buried in earth and sand or a victim left behind in a collapsed house is a major issue, but it is important to improve the activity ability of rescue dogs.The dog's "activity" (feelings such as comfort and discomfort) is greatly related to the ability to search.There was a need to develop a cyber suit that would not burden the dog while being able to measure the electrocardiogram during activity by fixing the electrodes to the dog's body.
Therefore, the research group devised a method to install electrodes in close contact with the skin where it is needed by simply putting on innerwear on the dog.This allows non-experts to install electrodes for electrocardiographic measurement in the correct position.In addition, a cyber suit equipped with an electrocardiograph and inertial sensor connected to this electrode, an artificial intelligence algorithm that judges pleasant and unpleasant emotions based on data, and a tablet terminal etc. will be used by multiple people in real time. We have developed a display method that enables remote monitoring.
By this method, the pleasant and unpleasant emotions of the dog can be objectively judged without relying on the owner's senses.Effective operation of rescue dogs is possible, such as conducting intensive searches when emotions are pleasant and taking breaks when feeling uncomfortable.Furthermore, it is expected that the development of this technology will lead to the development of new communication methods between humans and dogs.
