TTD Trials AI Robotic Dog to Spot Wildlife and Protect Tirumala Devotees
· India · The Hindu, Hindustan Times
On 20 August 2026 the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) tested a quadruped robotic dog designed to monitor wildlife in Tirumala’s forest areas. The robot, inspected by TTD Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary at the Sri Padmavathi Guest House, bears optical and thermal cameras, 360‑degree LiDAR, and multiple sensors that allow it to detect and track animals, humans, vehicles and domestic animals in low‑visibility conditions. When wildlife is spotted it can send geo‑tagged alerts and live video feeds to control rooms and patrollers, enabling quicker responses along priority routes such as the Alipiri‑Tirumala footpath. TTD plans to use the robot’s sound and light deterrents to keep animals away from pilgrim areas without physical intervention, while keeping the system as a supplement to existing camera traps and foot patrols. Data gathered by the dog will also help TTD refine patrol schedules and surveillance deployment in critical zones.
Why it matters
The robotic dog aims to improve safety for the millions of devotees who traverse Tirumala’s forests, reducing the risk of human‑wildlife encounters and enabling faster response to leopard and other animal movements.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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