1. How Sheepdogs Move Herds: The Two Simple Rules
Imagine a single dog guiding dozens of sheep to a fence in a wide pasture. The dog does not just follow commands; it seems to switch its movements based on how scattered the sheep are. In 2014, a research team published a computer model that describes this "shepherding problem" with two simple rules [2].
The first rule is to gather: if any sheep are farther than a certain distance from the group, the dog moves behind that sheep to push it back into the herd. The second rule is to drive: if all sheep are within range, the dog moves behind the whole group and pushes them toward the target [2]. The team compared this model with real data from GPS trackers on 46 sheep and one sheepdog. They reported that the dog’s positioning was similar to the model [2]. However, this does not prove the model is exactly how a real dog thinks.
The authors suggest this logic could also be used for robots moving livestock or guiding people to exits. But what happens if we replace the dog with a flying machine? Will sheep still move?
2. Sheep Experiments: How Drone Height, Speed, and Sound Affected the Sheep
In 2021, a research team at the University of New South Wales in Canberra, Australia, tested drones on 12 Dorper sheep [3]. They varied the drone’s height (2, 5, or 10 meters), speed (4, 10, or 25 km/h, which is about 2.5, 6, or 15 miles per hour), and the sound played (engine noise only, siren, dog bark, motorcycle, or music). They conducted 54 tests with groups of 3 to 7 sheep [3].
When sounds were played, sheep began to be alert at a greater distance than when only engine noise was used. However, their heart rates did not rise significantly. Dog barks seemed like a good candidate for moving sheep easily: the drone started chasing the sheep at an average of 64 meters (about 70 yards) away, which is farther than the 36 meters (about 40 yards) for sirens [3]. But because the statistical difference was borderline (p=0.052), researchers cannot say dog barks are definitely the best sound.
This experiment showed that drones might be able to move sheep. But is it scary for the sheep being chased?
3. Sheep Heart Rates and Why Sheep Get Used to Drones
The experiment also measured sheep heart rates. At rest, a sheep’s heart beats about 80 times per minute [3]. When chased strongly by a dog, the average was about 163 beats per minute. When chased by a drone playing dog barks, the average was about 164 beats per minute, almost the same as with a real dog [3]. However, the maximum heart rate while being chased was consistently lower with drones than when sheep were gathered by dogs or motorcycles [3].
Notably, the sheep quickly got used to the drones. The average heart rate during chasing dropped from about 162 beats per minute in the first round to about 142-144 beats per minute in later rounds [3]. One hypothesis for this habituation involves innate behaviors of sheep, but this has not been verified as a result [3].
Habituation is good news because it means less stress for the sheep. On the other hand, if they get used to the same sound and movement, the drone might move them less effectively. This "habituation" is a challenge that appears again in both research and real-world fields.
4. Hokkaido Farm Test: How Much Herding Time Do Drones Save?
At the Toyotomi Town Large-Scale Grassland Farm in Hokkaido, NTT Docomo conducted a demonstration from July to November 2019 [5]. They tested moving cattle into fences using drones with speakers, varying the types of sounds and flight methods.
According to an agricultural media article from December 2020, herding at this farm, which used to take 40 to 50 minutes for one area, was reduced to about 5 to 10 minutes with drones [6]. The herd was about 200 cattle. Six types of sounds were used, including dog and elephant calls and railroad crossing noises. Because cows get used to the same sound and react less, the farm changes the sounds regularly [6]. The "habituation" seen in sheep experiments is also a target for improvement on cattle farms.
The system was developed by Tech Farm Inc. Flight plans can be set via the web, and start or pause commands are sent via an app [7]. It is reported that guiding, which previously required two people working together, can now be done by one operator [7].
The Memuro Town Shinranyama Farm decided to introduce drones after visiting the Toyotomi farm. Since July 2024, morning cattle herding with drones has reduced work that used to take 60 to 90 minutes by motorcycle or foot to about 15 minutes, according to the farm manager [1]. The time freed up is used to check for injuries and health, and thermal cameras are also used to monitor body temperature and estrus [1].
The numbers from these two farms cannot be compared in the same table because conditions and farm sizes differ.
5. Future Research: Sound Pitch, Multiple Drones, and Automatic Herding
The team that experimented with sheep is continuing research focusing on sound frequency (pitch) rather than just sound type [4]. Their long-term goal is for humans and artificial intelligence to cooperate to help farm animal welfare.
In 2024, the University of Kentucky in the United States announced a study funded by a $910,000 grant from the US Department of Agriculture over five years [8]. They will research controlling multiple semi-autonomous drones near cattle and studying how different breeds react. The researchers stated they want to see if cattle can be moved safely and effectively, but also noted that it may not be cost-effective right now [8].
In July 2026, Australian company SkyKelpie reported in the media that they tested a herding algorithm created in simulations on grazing lands in Queensland [9]. They stated that autonomous livestock movement is technically possible depending on conditions. However, no specific numbers were shown, and it was noted that judgment and timing still rely on experienced people. This was the company’s own announcement, so it cannot be said that practical use is complete [9].
We have looked at sheepdog behavior models and attempts to move sheep and cattle with drones. There are examples of introduction in farms, and automation is being tested. However, challenges remain, including habituation and practical use.
6. Try the Two Herding Rules With Erasers on Your Desk
You can try the two rules on your desk. Place 5 erasers or crumpled tissues scattered apart. Use a ruler as if it were a dog. Move just one separated item from behind to near the others (gather). Once they are grouped, slowly push them from behind toward a paper goal (drive) [2]. If you push too hard, they scatter again. Even though the two rules are simple, using them well requires careful control of force.
If you want to read more, an article by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hokkaido Agricultural Affairs Office is available in Japanese [1]. The paper on the sheep experiment is in English but has many figures and tables showing results for each sound [3].
Farm drones are not just for chasing cattle; they also became tools for checking health using the time freed up. Next, you might wonder how people can use habituation to help manage animals.