Tiny Drones Now Hunt and Kill Mosquitoes

Engineers have developed autonomous micro-drones capable of eliminating insects in mid-air, a breakthrough that could revolutionize mosquito control. In a recent test on July 14, a prototype successfully targeted and eliminated a moth. This development by a Y Combinator-backed startup aims to drastically reduce mosquito eradication costs by as much as 100 times.

The 40-gram drones are equipped with smartphone microphones and ultrasonic sensors, similar to those found in car parking systems. Custom software enables them to track and target insects. The company estimates that ten drones could effectively clear a square kilometer of mosquitoes, though this has yet to be tested in real-world conditions.