Natalie Jeremijenko’s Feral Robotic Dogs are a groundbreaking harmony of the worlds of technology and sustainability. Her ingenuity and ability to think outside of the box allowed her to create robots that use sensors to “sniff” the concentration of toxic pollutants of its surroundings. The robots themselves come in many models because they are made by disassembling and rebuilding commercially available small robotic toy dogs. The robots sleek hairless design is equipped with a camera on their head and an upgraded nose that houses the pollution sensors. A data storage device is also fitted on the back of the dogs.
One interpretation could be that humans crave companionship from animals but their furry friends often have short lifespans. A solution to this problem could be robotic dogs, because they aren’t alive and are incapable of dying, thus they would outlive their human. Another interpretation of the robotic dogs is that they could symbolize the deterioration of the environment, and the importance of involving children in the fight to save Earth. All of the people of Earth need to make changes to help the planet’s health. Most importantly, children need to be taught the ways of sustainability because their generation could be effected the most if Earth isn’t helped. The robotic dog design of the pollution detectors makes it fun for kids to help their planet.
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