Saudi university creates AI drone system to track camels

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have developed a low-cost AI-powered drone system designed to recognize and monitor camels across Saudi Arabia. The project helps herders manage their animals more efficiently while providing scientists with new data on camel behavior and migration.

Developed by Professor Basem Shihada and his team, the system uses affordable commercial drones equipped with cameras instead of costly GPS collars or satellite links.

“The system promises an affordable option for camel herders to continue one of Saudi Arabia’s oldest labors and for scientists to learn more about camel migration patterns and habits”, the university said.

The team trained an AI model using aerial footage from a single drone camera capturing herds in the desert.

KAUST scientist Chun Pong Lau said the findings revealed distinct behavioural trends.

“We found their migration patterns were not random but showed identifiable patterns", he said.

The study observed that camels, especially older ones, travel long distances each day in coordinated grazing movements but consistently return to their herder by sunset. Researchers also found that camels were highly responsive to drone noise, prompting the team to operate at an altitude of at least 120 metres.

Camels remain integral to Arabian culture and the Saudi economy, contributing over SR2 billion ($534 million) annually through sectors such as food, textiles and tourism. Yet herding remains a challenge, with animals capable of roaming up to 50 kilometres daily across remote terrain, sometimes leading to accidents, overgrazing and livestock loss.

The KAUST team plans to expand its research by collecting footage of larger and more diverse herds to improve the AI model’s accuracy and tracking performance.