- A small drone uses sonar and artificial intelligence to autonomously hunt mosquitoes
- Former MBDA engineer develops insect-killing drone with missile-inspired technology
- Tornyol drone detects small objects using extremely low transmission power
Alex Toussaint, a former engineer at missile maker MBDA, built a 40g autonomous drone that hunts and kills mosquitoes using AMD ultrasonic sonar.
The system combines phased microphones with onboard artificial intelligence to detect insects in mid-flight and then intercepts them before they enter a designated area.
His Y Combinator-backed startup Tornyol values the current prototype at $1,100, although mass production could eventually reduce that cost.
Early test results
In one of the first tests, the company reported that the drone detected a 2 mm wide plastic ball from 30 centimeters using only 1/1300 of the planned transmission power.
Toussaint said the result validated the signal-to-noise budget and brought the project closer to its stated goal of three-meter mosquito tracking.
The team also announced its first air-to-air kill, when the autonomous drone intercepted a flying moth during an outdoor test flight.
Toussaint called it “a big step toward the complete eradication of mosquitoes,” and described the milestone as critical to his company’s stated long-term mission.
To use the drone, the user first defines the protection area on the base station map before starting the mission, which does not require installation or wiring.
A single Tornyol unit is designed to protect indoor or outdoor areas covering up to 5 acres in size.
The battery life of the current prototype is three minutes of flight time on a single charge before recharging.
Once the battery runs out, the drone automatically returns to its charging station and begins recharging.
The recharging process takes about 30 minutes, after which the unit resumes its patrol program automatically.
For continuous protection throughout the day, the system intelligently manages and adjusts patrol schedules over time.
Hardware, implementation and design options
The drone uses TDK InvenSense T3902 MEMS microphones for its sonar array and consumes less than 5W of power, within the limits of USB 3.0.
The microphone array relies on an FPGA to process incoming acoustic data from dozens of sensors in real time.
Current estimates imply that the prototype could be mass produced for a few hundred dollars, although a scaled-down version could cost less.
Toussaint’s experience at MBDA, a European missile manufacturer, suggests that the underlying sonar and interceptor system could be extended to military applications.
Small autonomous drones capable of acoustic detection and aerial interception could intercept enemy drones the same way they intercept mosquitoes.
Neither Toussaint nor Tornyol have publicly addressed any defense, surveillance or dual-use potential linked to the underlying sonar technology so far.
On Tornyol’s website, the drone is marketed as a quiet, chemical-free alternative to pesticides, with a $100 refundable deposit to reserve a spot.
Buyers can choose a subscription plan, which can be canceled at any time, or a one-time purchase that grants full ownership with no recurring fees.
Own units come with a one-year warranty covering accidental damage, while subscription units are replaced for free if a drone breaks.
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