Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham launches an AI powered elephant watch system

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has launched an innovative AI-powered monitoring system called "Amrita Elephant Watch" to address rising human-wildlife conflicts, particularly involving elephants. 
Developed by the university's Ammachi Labs, the system aims to harmonise human and wildlife coexistence by using real-time elephant tracking and AI-powered alerts. 
This technology not only provides elephants access to essential resources within designated perimeters but also monitors their movements to prevent conflicts.
The system leverages advanced AI algorithms and IoT technology, analysing video feeds from strategically placed surveillance cameras to detect and track elephant movements.
It is connected to mobile networks, enabling immediate alerts to be sent to farmers, landowners, and authorities, allowing them to take timely action and mitigate potential conflicts.
Balu Mohandas Menon, Team Lead for Rural Technologies at Ammachi Labs, expressed excitement about the project, stating, "Amrita Elephant Watch is a significant step towards wildlife conservation while safeguarding people's lives and livelihoods. 
We are thrilled to bring this technology to our communities and positively impact the ecosystem."
The system, developed by a team led by Menon, including Ayyappan Ajan, Ramakrishnan K, and B Gokul Dev, has undergone successful pilot testing.
The Amrita Elephant Watch was recently showcased at the GPAI Summit 2023, receiving praise from industry experts and policymakers. 
The project has also been recognised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) under the "AI in Agriculture" initiative, highlighting its potential to address human-elephant conflicts in rural areas.