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this is the most Australian AI startup i've ever seen lol
a 19-year-old just raised $1.2M to build AI drone cowboys for cattle.
and the more i read about it the cooler it gets. here's how it works:
1. the rancher maps the whole property in the app, every fenced paddock, gate and water trough
2. they tap the paddock they want the cattle moved into, whichever one still has grass in it
3. the drone flies out autonomously, finds the herd, positions itself around the animals and starts guiding them toward the right gate
4. the AI watches their position, speed and posture, moving closer to apply pressure and backing off when the cattle show stress
cattle can hear the propellers from up to 100 meters away. when one needs an extra push the drone can direct the airflow onto its back
they even tested playing a recording of each farmer's own cattle call through the drone haha
and once they're through the gate the farmer gets a fresh report on the whole property, because the drone also:
> counted the herd on the way
> estimated what they weigh
> flagged any animal moving like it's sick
> measured how much grass is left in each paddock
> checked for open gates, dry troughs or busted fences
one drone can typically control and track herds of up to 2,000 animals. the company says it cuts mustering costs roughly in half
Brumby (formerly GrazeMate) is still rolling out pilots, but already had commitments covering 1.7 million acres across Queensland and New South Wales before expanding into California
so a job that used to require riders, motorbikes, horses or helicopters is now just 3 taps on a phone and an AI drone cowboy