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What’s one way Amazon is testing its delivery drones?

Answer: a simulated dog

In Amazon’s ongoing quest to make delivery drones a viable option for the thousands of packages it drops on doorsteps every day, the company is turning to unconventional methods of testing its approach. According to International Business Times, Amazon is working on an obstacle course of sorts to help the drones avoid any danger, including the possibility of landing in the yard of a territorial dog.

Although it’s unclear exactly what a “simulated dog” is, the concept suggests that not only are the drones working on learning how to avoid physical harm from an angry pup whose yard is suddenly infiltrated by an unknown flying object, but also to train the drones to not, for example, land on a dog in their attempt to deliver a package. A similar test is being run to teach the drones to avoid other common yard obstacles such as clotheslines.