We present a glimpse of the future ...

Our patent pending laser drone technology can reduce pest control costs by 90%, charging a mere $20 per hectare compared to $250 for traditional methods. They offer a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution for pest management.

They easily navigate difficult terrain, reduce carbon emissions, and improve soil quality for increased CO2 absorption. This technology benefits both farmers and the environment, promoting sustainable agriculture.

U-Space is officialy open for business

Europe has officially declared an airspace for drones, called U-Space. Delivery drones will be omnipresent. Delivery drones will provide the flying infrastructure, allowing us to focus solely on the optical system.

Spray drones need to know where to spray, so the technology to create insect density maps is being developed and already commercially available... besides, colorado beetle can be detected by extremely fast due to their striped pattern. Very technical, but due to an optical fast fourier, only colorado beetles become white blobs on a screen, at the speed of light. But this is only possibly for colorado beetle or other striped insects. Still, this allows a drone to locate them at 100 km per hour, due to smart photonics.

But likely fast FPGA chips with event cameras can do the same without using optical magic, allowing fast localization of all insects.

Technical aspects

Laser

The Nubb24 laser offers up to 105 optical power at 450 nm, in an extremely small package. In laser, its is actually the cooling system that takes the bulk of the weight and size, but since the laser is only on sporadically, a very lightweight cooling system can be used.

For comparison, here is a video of a larva being killed by a 5 watt laser.

Galvo scanner

The laser beam is precisely directed towards the insect by a high-speed galvo scanner, consisting of two small mirrors mounted on agile motors. This system boasts exceptional speed (100 Hertz) and remarkable precision (0.1 mm accuracy at a distance of 1 meter).

micro galvo scanner

Alternatively, a mems device can be used.

Event cameras

Event cameras, capable of capturing images at exceptionally high frame rates of up to 10,000 FPS, eliminate motion blur. This technology proves invaluable in precisely detecting and tracking insects from a rapidly moving drone platform, even at speeds of 40 km per hour.

If the amount of insects to kill is small (as for adult colorado beetles is the case), conventional cameras can be used.

Despite the initial investment in high-quality components, this drone technology offers a financially viable alternative to conventional insecticides, costing $250 USD per hectare. The drone would cost around $25,000 USD, but even a price up to €100,000 is justified, as this investment would be recuperated in approximately 4 years.

The estimated component costs include:

$1,000 USD for the laser
$3,500 USD for the galvo scanner
$10,000 USD for event cameras (with prices expected to decrease in the coming years)
$10,000 USD for the drone itself

This brings the estimated raw component cost for a custom-built drone capable of maintaining a 100-hectare field to around $25,000 USD, a relatively small investment with long-term benefits for farmers and the environment.

The Colorado beetle

The Colorado potato beetle, a prime example of a target insect, costs the agricultural industry an estimated $1 billion annually in insecticides alone. This pest is notoriously resilient, showing no response to sound or the presence of machinery. Other key targets for this technology include the diamondback moth, flea beetle, cotton bollworm, and numerous other destructive insect species.

Adult colorado beetles

Sun-seekers, preferring to bask atop leaves.
Bold and brazen, their size makes them easy targets.
Pesticide-resistant, shrugging off many chemical defenses.

Larvae of colorado beetles

Sun-seekers, preferring to bask atop leaves alongside their adult counterparts.
Smaller than adults, but still visible and potentially targetable by precision lasers.
Inherit their parents' resilience, resisting many pesticides.

AI-Powered Precision Targeting

This innovative drone technology revolutionizes pest control by bridging the gap between biological and mechanical approaches within integrated pest management (IPM). Advanced AI algorithms precisely target specific pests,safeguarding beneficial insects, while customizable controls even allow a predetermined percentage of pests to survive,fostering a balanced ecosystem. This technology excels in targeting mature insects, including adult and late-stage larvae,which are often resistant to traditional biological controls. By integrating this solution with existing biocontrol strategies,farmers gain a powerful, holistic tool for effective and sustainable pest management.

This groundbreaking technology isn't just about pest control, it's about aligning with a greener future. It's about embracing the goals of the European Green Deal – slashing pesticide use, cutting carbon emissions, and enriching our soil. Imagine: organic food, healthier and more affordable for everyone. This technology isn't just a solution, it's a step towards a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow.