Startup Develops Tiny Autonomous Drone to Hunt and Kill Mosquitoes Without Pesticides

The American startup Tornyol has developed a tiny autonomous drone weighing about 40 grams designed to detect, chase, and eliminate mosquitoes mid-air without using pesticides, relying solely on propellers. The company announced that its prototype successfully completed its first insect interception during a test, marking what co-founder Alex Toussen described as their "first aerial interception" and a significant step toward completely eradicating mosquitoes.

The drone technology employs ultrasonic sensors and microphones to identify insects by their wing movements, distinguishing between mosquito species and even between males and females. Tornyol envisions deploying swarms of these drones to clear entire urban areas of mosquitoes.

According to the company, a fleet of just ten drones could cover an area of one square kilometer, although this claim has yet to be validated under real-world conditions. The development aims to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical insecticides in mosquito control.