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It could be the ultimate gadget for dog owners - a hi-tech back for their pet that lets them communicate.

The sensor-packed harness can sense the animal's movement, and the sounds it makes, letting the owner know how they feel.

Speakers and vibrating pads in the harness also allow owners to 'talk back' to their animals.

The sensor-packed harness can sense the animal's movement, and the sounds it makes, letting the owner know how they feel, while speakers and vibrating pads in the harness also allow owners to 'talk back' to their animals

Researchers say the system could be particularly useful for guide dogs and other working animals.

They say it has applications in everything from search and rescue to service dogs to training pets.

'We've developed a platform for computer-mediated communication between humans and dogs that opens the door to new avenues for interpreting dogs' behavioral signals and sending them clear and unambiguous cues in return,' said Dr. David Roberts of North Carolina State University, who developed the system.

'We have a fully functional prototype, but we'll be refining the design as we explore more and more applications for the platform.'

The platform itself is a harness that fits comfortably onto the dog, and which is equipped with a variety of technologies.

'There are two types of communication technologies,' says Dr. Alper Bozkurt, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at NC State and co-lead author of a paper on the work.

'One that allows us to communicate with the dogs, and one that allows them to communicate with us.'

'Dogs communicate primarily through body language, and one of our challenges was to develop sensors that tell us about their behavior by observing their posture remotely,' Roberts says. 

'So we can determine when they're sitting, standing, running, etc., even when they're out of sight – a harness-mounted computer the size of a deck of cards transmits those data wirelessly.

'At the same time, we've incorporated speakers and vibrating motors, called haptics, into the harness, which enable us to communicate with the dogs,' Roberts adds.

'We developed software to collect, interpret and communicate those data, and to translate human requests into signals on the harness,' says Rita Brugarolas, an NC State Ph.D. student and co-author of the paper.

The technology mimics the dog in the hit film up - who famously was unable to stop himself shouting 'Squirrel!' every time he saw one.

The technology also includes physiological sensors that monitor things like heart rate and body temperature. The sensors not only track a dog's physical well-being, but can offer information on a dog's emotional state, such as whether it is excited or stressed.

These technologies form the core of the platform, but it can be customized with additional devices depending on the specific application.

'For example, for search and rescue, we've added environmental sensors that can detect hazards such as gas leaks, as well as a camera and microphone for collecting additional information,' Bozkurt says.

'We're also very interested in addressing stress in working dogs, such as guide dogs for the blind,' saysSean Mealin, an NC State Ph.D. student and co-author of the paper. 

The technology could be particularly useful for guide dogs, helping monitor their health as they work

'We're reliant on the physiological and behavioral sensors to give us a picture of the dog's mental and emotional state.

'This can help handlers identify and mitigate stress for the dogs, improving the length and quality of a dog's life,' Mealin adds.

'It's an important issue. 

'Particularly because guide dogs are bred and trained not to display signs of stress in their behavior.'

In addition to disaster response research, the research team has already done work that uses the platform to assist in dog training. They are now in the early stages of miniaturizing the technologies and improving the physiological sensors for use in animal shelters and hospitals.

'This platform is an amazing tool, and we're excited about using it to improve the bond between dogs and their humans,' says Dr. Barbara Sherman, a clinical professor of animal behavior at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine and co-author of the paper.