Kamel, the Robot Jockey
25 April, 2005 | This item was filled under [ (Mis) Use of Technology, Good News, Photos, Qatar, Robot ]
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October 2004, I posted a news article about the intentions of Qatar to substitute robots for jockeys in camel races. Now the robot is ready and was tested last week.
The following photos shows ‘Kamel’, the robot jockey, rides Ghazil, a Qatari camel, during a test-run at the Shahaniah camel race track in Doha, Qatar.
The Robot was developed by the Swiss Alexandre Colot.
Qatar plans to phase out child jockeys, who have long been used in camel races, and replace them with robots.
Posted by Haitham Sabbah
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13 Comments on “Kamel, the Robot Jockey”
Well, to me the idea is really impressive, but do you think it’s safe!
I don’t know, but I prefer humans, not kids for sure, but I don’t trust technology that much to be honest! although the idea as I said is really smart and impressive.
To be honest, Eman, the whole idea is silly and sick. I mean, looking at it from the sport perspective as well from the living beings perspective.
First, race (were animals are the means) is an interaction between a human and an animal, which suppose to have built a type of relation sort of to make a winning team. Now without the human interaction (except for by remote control), the race loses it’s human touch.
Second, machines have no feelings, so what happens during the race and how will the animal transfer these feelings to the jockey, is missing.
Third, they just bought the damn robot. If it was invented by the Qatari’s, maybe I would have tried to find them some credit. But what the hell, it just a showoff!!!
Hello? Does I, RObot come into mind. and what about cheating. cant one of these robots be prgramed to cheat. Efff.
Just a quick note - I added a link to your blog at the bottom of my post.
On a side note, I lived in the Middle East for almost 8 years (6.5 in the U.A.E., 1 in Saudi Arabia) and though I am not a native, I saw the races and think the robots are good because it won’t place stress on the boys who currently ride the camels (way too young to be so prominent in such a high-stakes event) - it will make the race purely based on the breeding and condition of the camels.
the robot use on camel race has taken a fast track on technology race in the area.Now, low weigh , fast reaction , faster hit , defferent type`s of actions, such as pulling the rope,etc and sooo on
but it is fun to be in such a sport bleave me
it involves so may factor
the camel bread , the feeding procedure , the training schedule,the hitting technic when the race starts,the reihn rope release and pull technic, etc.
What an interesting story Haitham!
Fascinating.
Many moons ago, 1976 to be precise, I went to the camel races in Riyadh with my Swedish girlfriend. There was not a “women’s section” so the usher placed us in the royal family box with big leather chairs.
No one was in the box at first so we sat in the front row. Soon, Crown Prince Fahed (later King Fahed) and his son came to be seated. He said to us, “Welcome ladies, sit in the second row right behind us and enjoy the races” At the start of the camel races a particulary stubborn camel refused to start running. It’s jockey was having a heck of a time and could not get it to run until the other camels were halfway done. My girlfriend and I burst out laughing and made great fun of the camel and it’s jockey. Crown Prince Fahed turned around to us with a sly grin and informed us it was HIS camel. We were mortified but he just chuckled with us.
Robot camel jockeys are quite a brave new world item. When the camel and the crowd are replaced with robots, where will the enjoyment be? much less the laughter if one decides to be stubborn!
I have made a robot my self better than the swiss , my robot uses GSM methods no interferance , no limited distance.
Motor 18 volts , long life battery, special made material wip, backup system in case of phone failure, weight 3KGS.
connect the wire from the motor to the head phone place one the GSM– prog the Phone to answer automaticly– dail the number, phone will ring twice then will open to receive orders– press 1 to hit back - press 2 to make free rotation on the side of the camel– press 3 to open the speaker on the jockey,so you can talk to the camel– press 4 to close — the good thing is you can select the power you need for hiting , small camels low — old camel you can increase the power.
and I am Qatari .
Hi Ali,
Woow I’m really impressed. You made it yourself, ha? Is it really that simple? Why they are making a big deal of it then? You see, I’m networking student and plan to do a research about these robotic jockeys for my capstone project. Do you want to help me?? I’m interested in your robot because it deals with some of the issues found in swiss robot. Looking forward to hear from you. I can be reached via alreem1323@hotmail.com
Alreem
I think those robots are awesome!!! I want one so I can have aligator races…. that way the aligators won’t eat the jockey. ’cause that would suck.