The ARAMP Manipulator

In order for the Oracle to effectively shear a sheep without endangering it in any way, the animal must be restrained firmly, but not traumatically so, so that it cannot move suddenly and be cut by the clippers. The Automated Restraint And Manipulator Platform (Fig.3), the ARAMP, was developed in parallel with the Oracle Development. This manipulator is the predecessor of the SLAMP, which is used by the Shear Magic Robot, and is pictured here.

In a manual shearing operation, the shearer can use his free hand to condition the loose skin folds as a smooth surface before applying the clippers. Since the pulling and prodding of robotics arms at the skin of a sheep (or any other animal for that matter) is undoubtedly traumatic, the ARAMP instead uses the position of the sheep to present to the Oracle a smooth, firm surface for shearing.

Research has shown that a sheep will stay still long enough for it to be sheared provided it is comfortably and firmly restrained. The ARAMP is padded and has a large surface area to account for the comfort side of things, while restraints are applied to the head and the legs during the shearing operation. (This isn't disturbing for a sheep, hard to believe, isn't it?) The restraints are driven by hydraulic actuators with a non-return action. The force of the actuators is preset, and is applied continually to prevent the sheep from shifting whilst the shearing is taking place.

The sheep must be presented to the robot in a particular manner and position. The cutter must enter at a set point, and the shearing process allows the fleece to peel back from the area the clippers are working. This is to prevent fouling of the clippers by the wool or cutting of the already clipped portion of the fleece. Also, the cutting pattern does not allow the weight of the fleece to raise a skin fold which may be cut by the clippers, injuring the animal. Further to this end, the fleece is supported so that its weight does not create such skin folds.