SUMMARY
Tornyol, a company co-founded by Alex Toussaint, has successfully tested its autonomous micro-drone designed to track and eliminate mosquitoes using sound and sonar. The drone utilizes a base station with phased array sonar and numerous microphones to map its environment in 3D, enabling precise tracking of small movements. This technology represents a significant step towards eradicating mosquitoes, which cause over 700,000 deaths annually. While the company plans to offer the drone to U.S. customers soon, potential ecological impacts of species eradication remain a concern.
TAKEAWAYS
Tornyol's autonomous micro-drone achieved its first air-to-air kill of a flying insect.
The drone uses sonar and microphones to track and eliminate mosquitoes.
This technology aims to eradicate mosquitoes and the diseases they spread.
The company plans a U.S. customer rollout in the near future.