But the dolphins require lengthy training and a human handler at all times.

It's a question of control: water's the worst medium for transmitting secure control signals between the 'bot and its human handler.

You can imagine my relief when a young German shepherd crashed through the underbrush with his human handler fast at his heels.

Right now, dogs typically train with a single human handler for up to two years before being deployed on a detection mission.

Alpha-Nine-orwhat was left of it, at least-stoodthe best chance of anyone to recover our Huragok friend and his human handler safe and sound.

Their human handlers just wouldn't know which was which.

From when they are just a few weeks old, the rats are taken from their mothers and "socialised" to become comfortable with humans handlers.