Robot technology has reached desert tracks in the United Arab Emirates, and it’s holding camels by the reins.
Camel racing is a practiced sport in the Middle East region, and it happens on large scales as publicized events are held and quite hefty money prizes are awarded. Camels cannot race with heavily weighted people on top of them, and so these mechanical jockeys were created.
The robots have built-in walkie-talkies, which allow the owners to deliver commands to the camels during the two-mile race, a small automated whip operated by a remote control, and of course, a full-on appropriate jockey outfit.
Prize money can range from few thousand Dirhams up to a million Dirhams.
Photographer Gaanesh Prasad witnessed the race live from Al Marmoum, Dubai, and claims it has been nothing short of an “amazing experience”.
All images are via Gaanesh Prasad/Solent News/REX/Shutterstock
