AI technology targets mosquitoes

A U.S. technology startup called Tornaivol says it has developed tiny AI-powered drones that can chase and destroy flying insects.

The company believes these micro drones could become a low cost and effective way to control mosquitoes in the future.

Supported by Y Combinator the startup aims to reduce the cost of mosquito control by up to 100 times compared to current methods.

Instead of relying on chemical sprays groups of these drones could fly through cities find mosquitoes and eliminate them automatically.

In a recent demonstration one of the drones successfully tracked and hit a flying moth in a controlled test.

Although the experiment was carried out on a moth rather than a mosquito the company says it is an important step toward using the technology against disease carrying insects.

Each drone weighs only 40 grams and uses AI ultrasonic sensors smartphone style microphones and advanced software to identify mosquitoes.

The drones send out ultrasonic waves and analyze the echoes.

They can also recognize mosquitoes by the unique sound made by their wing movements helping them tell mosquitoes apart from other flying insects.

Tornaivol engineers Alex Toussaint and Clovis Pedalo say they hope to deploy swarms of these drones in large cities in the future.

According to the company just 10 micro drones could protect an area of one square kilometer by targeting blood feeding mosquitoes offering a promising new tool for improving public health.