Tornyol’s LeSonar2 Uses 32 Ultrasonic Emitters And 380 Smartphone Microphones To Detect And Propeller-Kill Mosquitoes Without Insecticides At $1,100 Per Unit
According to New Atlas, French startup Tornyol backed by Y Combinator, has developed a 40-gram autonomous drone called LeSonar2 that actively hunts and kills mosquitoes mid-air using ultrasonic phased array sonar, killing them with its own propellers rather than chemicals.
The drone uses 32 ultrasonic emitters to send pulses that bounce off nearby insects, 380 smartphone microphones to pick up reflections, and an Artix-7 FPGA processor to build a real-time 3D map of its environment. It identifies mosquitoes specifically by detecting their unique wingbeat frequency and harmonic structure, distinguishing them from other insects. Its sonar system also allows it to operate at night. It continuously patrols a defined area, returning to its base station to recharge as needed.
The WHO estimates mosquitoes kill 700,000 to 1 million people annually through malaria, dengue, Zika and yellow fever. The drone addresses that problem without insecticides that are harmful to humans, pets and the environment. Limitations include a three-minute flight time, 30-minute recharge, and a price of $1,100 outright or $50 per month.
The idea is genuinely ingenious. The battery is the obvious bottleneck. Check out our previous coverage of technology on The Trusted Times.
