Sophie Lund Rasmussen, a Carlsberg Junior Research Fellow at Linacre College and WildCRU, Aalborg University, is leading a study to develop a safety test for robotic lawnmowers to protect hedgehogs. The test uses specially designed "hedgehog crash test dummies" to assess if a lawnmower can avoid a real hedgehog and the potential damage it could cause. "There is an urgent need to identify and phase out models of robotic lawnmowers that pose a threat to hedgehogs", Ms Rasmussen says. The researchers hope the test will be integrated into official testing protocols for robotic lawnmowers in Europe. (Summary provided by Infomedia) Sources:Department of Biology , 16-01-2024