New York (Web Desk): A new US technology company claims to have developed an artificial intelligence-powered micro drone capable of tracking and targeting flying insects, particularly mosquitoes, in the air.
According to the company, if the technology proves successful, the cost of eliminating mosquitoes could be up to 100 times lower than current methods.
Engineers at US-based company Turnwheel, which was established with funding from Y Combinator, have been working on the project for several months. The company aims to develop small drones that can directly locate and eliminate mosquitoes in urban areas instead of relying on chemical sprays and environmentally harmful or expensive methods.
Company co-founder Alex Toussan also released a video showing the micro drone tracking and targeting a flying insect for the first time. In the video, the drone follows a moth and eventually brings it down.
Although a moth rather than a mosquito was targeted in the experiment, and the test was conducted in a limited area, the engineers say it represents an important step toward developing drones capable of accurately identifying and eliminating mosquitoes in the air in the future.
According to the company, the drone will emit ultrasonic waves and use multiple microphones to analyze the returning echoes. The unique Doppler sound produced by the movement of a mosquito’s wings could theoretically enable the drone to distinguish mosquitoes from other insects.
Company founders Alex Toussan and Clovis Pedalo say their ultimate goal is to develop swarms of micro drones that can help make entire urban areas mosquito-free.