Hacchan, a four-legged robot with an Akita dog face, was presented as a prototype for deterring bears. It makes lifelike dog-barking sounds. The researchers aim to have the robots patrol buffer zones and gather in groups to drive bears away when one is spotted.

The team at Akita Prefectural University presented the project on October 13. They are developing an AI-based system intended to respond to bear movements without direct human control.