Unlocking penguins' secrets with robots | Yvon Le Maho | TEDxAnnecy
Yvon LE MAHO |
TEDxAnnecy
• March 2019
New technologies are helping us to explore space. Why not use them to understand the world around us as well? Yvon Le Maho is specifically interested in species on our planet that live in extreme cold: the Antarctic penguins. We still haven't been able to determine how their colonies are structured, how they operate, nor how individuals interact with each other. This is because of the disturbance humans cause when they walk in their midst,. So Yvon had the idea of developing robots to study them, a real challenge since sometimes, a good camouflage is needed for the robot to be truly accepted...
The multitude of innovations developed by animals and plants to adapt in the most varied environments on our planet, often in extreme conditions, fascinates Yvon Le Maho. Now 71 years old, he has traveled around the world to study animals in polar as well as in tropical environments. He has launched two big research programs: one on Antarctic penguins wintering in Adelie Land, about 50 years ago, and the other about 20 years ago in Guyana, on sea turtles. These projects are now followed by his students. Since 1990, he has sought to innovate through new technology that enables us to develop our knowledge on animals in their natural habitat, all while reducing human-induced disturbance.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organised by a local community. Learn more at: http://ted.com/tedx