Robot Jockey Weighs Four Tons

Don't worry: The horse only feels the weight of a virtual jockey.


(from FOXNews, used w/o permission)

"The Kentucky Derby Meets Speed Racer"
FOXNews (July 2, 2008)

"The world of racehorse training just took one giant leap into the future.

"Roush Technologies, in collaboration with Turkish-based Kurt Systems, introduced a mobile trainer capable of monitoring racehorses at speeds up to 37.2 mph....

"...As the horse gallops, the vehicle, which is mounted behind the horse, keeps pace, collecting data and analyzing the horse's progress.

"Weighing roughly 4 tons, the trainer features a computerized heart, blood, oxygen and fitness-monitoring system. To simulate the presence of a jockey, Roush also included a hydraulically controlled silicon saddle and electronically controlled reins...."

The horse's ears are pointing forward in the photo, I assume that the creature doesn't mind that contraption too much.

Real-time monitoring of vital functions makes sense, but these days, I'd have thought it would be possible to make the package a little smaller.