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Product: Glasses: 3D
guided sheep-mowers   (+2, -1)  [vote for, against]
guide sheep with computer goggles - blank out areas you don't want them to go.

introduction: sheep are great lawnmowers. Downside = poop.

For areas of land that you want as grass, and dont want to sunbathe on (verges of roads) they're great.

problem : However, you have to fence sheep in. (else they get hit by tractors/eaten) Fences are expensive, and are impractical for complex shapes.

The idea: put computer-controlled goggles on sheep. These 'blank out' areas that you don't want the sheep to go. They would see a "black zone".

Hopefully - they would not go in the 'black zone' and would just eat the grass you wanted them too.

Therefor, sheep could travel hundreds of miles, independently - and eat only grass that was in the public's interest for them to do so. Saving many a LOT of money on farmers. You could "lead" them, and manage land exactly, getting grass the Precise "eat" ratio You Require.

Fatal Flaw: may not work. Sheep may rely on smell / touch and be able to find grass in the 'black zone'. I submit that even if this is the case, they would be happier out of it, so trespassing might be low - like 20%. This might not offer the Precision that 'road verces' require - but might still be accurate enough for a farmer to get rid of fences. Especially if they provided a 'bare-earth ring' around a designated enclosure. Besides - with sensory control, you could "punish" animals for their location... flashing lights, scary sounds... etc... I know this is evil And i would like it know that i ... DO NOT ENDORSE EVIL.
-- nicholaswhitworth, Apr 11 2010

Sheepishly linked... Urban_20Remote_20Herding_20Array
[normzone, Feb 13 2011]

Don't sheep automow anyway? I.E. look for the greenest most tastiest sprouty stuff they can find, rather than keep eathing one spot down to the dirt?

The poo is not a problem = fertilizer.
-- ShawnBob, Apr 12 2010


No, sheep are grazing livestock. Goats are browsing livestock.
-- rcarty, Apr 12 2010


sp. endorse
-- pertinax, Apr 12 2010


... but an attractive idea
-- pertinax, Apr 12 2010


// DO NOT ENDORCE EVIL //

So why are you here, exactly ?
-- 8th of 7, Apr 12 2010



random, halfbakery