Robotic dog spots invasive fire ant nests better than humans

Robotic dogs can spot invasive fire ant nests more efficiently than human searchers – and they can safely stir up a swarm of aggressive ants by poking their nests, which can help researchers identify the notorious pests.

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) packs a venomous sting, and causes billions of dollars in ecological and agricultural damage across the world each year. To combat the threat, researchers have been testing how a robotic dog combined with artificial intelligence can help detect the ants’ …