SYDNEY — Australian researchers have developed a special robot that can herd cattle in large, rugged terrain that may eventually replace farmers and herding dogs.

The robot is known as the SwagBot. It is a battery-operated, omnidirectional ground vehicle developed by Australian Centre for Field Robotics.

The SwagBot can move as fast as 20 kilometers per hour on smooth terrain. During its first field test, the robot demonstrated that it can also navigate through rugged terrain.

“The trial has been very successful so far, so it’s given us the confidence to move to the next phase,” Salah Sukkarieh of the University of Sydney, the leader of the trial told New Scientist.

The team is working on algorithms that will allow the SwagBot to detect changes in the body temperature and posture of the cattle in order to monitor their health. It will also be equipped with color and shape sensors to identify good pasture for the cattle.

According to the New Scientist, the Swagbot will be the first robot in the world to be able to monitor the health of livestock if the algorithms are tested successfully.