Robotic dogs to monitor wildlife, enhance pilgrim safety in Tirumala hills

TTD is exploring AI-powered robotic dogs to monitor wildlife and watch trekking routes in Tirumala. The move is aimed at faster alerts, safer pilgrim movement and fewer human-wildlife encounters.

In Short

• Robots equipped with LiDAR, optical and thermal cameras for all-weather use
• AI classifies humans, animals and vehicles, sending live alerts
• Robots to aid, not replace, forest guards in enhancing safety and surveillance

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is exploring the use of AI-powered robotic dogs to monitor wildlife movement and enhance the safety of millions of pilgrims trekking through the forested Tirumala hills.

TTD senior officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary, along with other officials, recently inspected a quadruped robot at the Sri Padmavathi Guest House to assess its readiness for deployment in dense forest terrain.

AI-POWERED SURVEILLANCE IN TIRUMALA FORESTS

Designed to navigate rough and hazardous terrain where human foot patrols may face difficulties, the four-legged robotic unit is equipped with advanced surveillance and monitoring technology.

The robotic dog features 360-degree LiDAR, optical and thermal cameras, allowing it to operate in different weather conditions, including total darkness and fog. Its AI system can classify objects in real time, differentiating between humans, wild animals, domestic animals and vehicles. The unit can also live-stream footage and send geo-tagged alerts to central control rooms and emergency response teams.

REAL-TIME TRACKING OF WILDLIFE

The AI-powered system can identify potential threats, including wild animals such as leopards moving near heavily used pilgrim routes, including the Alipiri-Tirumala trekking path.

Once a potential threat is detected, the robotic dog can transmit live thermal video feeds and trigger geo-tagged alerts, enabling authorities and emergency response units to monitor the situation and respond quickly.

The unit is equipped with 360-degree LiDAR, optical and thermal cameras, along with AI-powered real-time object classification. It is designed for all-weather operations, including in total darkness and fog, while its live-streaming and geo-tagging capabilities allow authorities to receive real-time updates on wildlife movement and potential threats.

The robotic unit is also equipped with customised sound and light systems intended to scare wild animals away from pilgrim pathways without physically harming them.

The non-lethal deterrent system could help reduce direct human-wildlife encounters in the Tirumala forests while ensuring the safety of local fauna.

ROBOTIC DOGS TO SUPPORT FOREST GUARDS

Officials said the robotic dogs are not intended to replace human forest guards or conventional camera traps. Instead, the units are being explored as rapidly deployable mobile monitoring assets that can supplement existing surveillance and wildlife protection measures.

The thermal and spatial data collected by the robotic system could help forest personnel map animal movement patterns and improve patrol schedules in critical and high-risk areas of the Tirumala hills.

The TTD's initiative marks a potential step towards integrating AI, robotics and real-time surveillance into wildlife monitoring and pilgrim safety across one of India's busiest pilgrimage destinations.

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