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Feral robotics is an open source robotics project designed to enable distributed and co-located teams of lay participants to 'upgrade' low-end commercially available toys with chemical sensing equipment, additional microprocessor hardware to enable environmental data collection and coordinated flock (or pack) behavior. The adapted robots 'sniff out' environmental toxins, that is, they follow concentration gradients of toxins sensed by their dog's noses. Not dissimilar to popular robot wars events, this project instead involves the release of 'packs' of feral robotic dogs that are designed and modified for release on sites of community interest, including public parks, school grounds and industrial sites. This creates mediagenic events, coverage, and discussion on contaminants in the local environments.
Because the dogs display concentration information through their movement, the exploration engages people who may otherwise find the scientific information illegible.
In the seven previous pack releases we have found evidence that participation in the project motivates increased participation in the political decision-making on the remediation of the sites.
Outcomes include: an open source robotics website that supports the upgrade and adaptation of toys for environmental exploration, suitable for incorporation in k-12 curricula for after school activities, and for more general introduction of evidence driven community activism; Video documentaries of groups of students adapting dogs and exploring sites, made in collaboration with TV stations; Guidelines for open sourcing toys to augment and encourage tinkering by atypical engineers; A traveling public exhibition, catalogue and lectures. http://xdesign.ucsd.edu/feralrobots/
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