The running kinematics of free-roaming giraffes, measured using a low cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

ABSTRACT: The study of animal locomotion can be logistically challenging, especially in the case of large or unhandleable animals in uncontrolled environments. Here we demonstrate the utility of a low cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in measuring two-dimensional running kinematics from free-roaming giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) in the Free State Province, South Africa. We collected 120 Hz video of running giraffes, and calibrated each video frame using metatarsal length as a constant object of scale. We tested a number of methods to measure metatarsal length. The method with the least variation used close range photography and a trigonometric equation to spatially calibrate the still image, and derive metatarsal length. In the absence of this option, a spatially calibrated surfa

SUBMITTER: Basu CK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6376938 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature