- Tiny drone uses sonar and AI to hunt mosquitoes autonomously
- 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 the missile manufacturer MBDA, has built a 40g autonomous drone that hunts and kills mosquitoes using AMD ultrasonic sonar.
The system pairs phased-array microphones with onboard AI to detect insects mid-flight, then intercepts them before they enter a designated zone.
His startup, Tornyol, backed by Y Combinator, prices the current prototype at $1,100, though mass production could eventually lower that cost.
Early test results
In an early trial, the company reported that the drone detected a 2 mm-wide plastic ball from 30 centimeters using only 1/1300th of planned transmitting power.
Toussaint said the result validated the signal-to-noise budget and moved the project closer to its stated three-meter mosquito tracking goal.
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 towards completely eradicating mosquitoes," describing the milestone as central to his company's stated long-term mission.
To use the drone, a user first defines the protection area on the base-station map before starting the mission, requiring no installation or wiring.
A single Tornyol unit is designed to protect outdoor or indoor areas covering up to 5 acres in size.
Battery life on the current prototype runs to three minutes of flight time on a single charge before recharging.
Once the battery runs low, the drone automatically returns to its charging station and begins recharging.
The recharge process takes about 30 minutes, after which the unit resumes its patrol schedule automatically.
For continuous protection throughout the day, the system intelligently manages and adjusts patrol schedules over time.
Hardware, deployment, and design choices
The drone uses TDK InvenSense T3902 MEMS microphones for its sonar array and consumes less than 5W of power, within USB 3.0 limits.
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, though a scaled-down version might cost less.
Toussaint’s background at MBDA, a European missile maker, suggests the underlying sonar and interception system could extend into military applications.
Small, autonomous drones capable of acoustic detection and aerial interception could intercept enemy drones just as they intercept mosquitoes.
Neither Toussaint nor Tornyol has 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 silent, chemical-free alternative to pesticides, with a refundable $100 deposit reserving a spot.
Buyers can choose a subscription plan, which can be cancelled at any time, or a one-time purchase that grants outright ownership with no recurring fees.
Owned units come with a one-year warranty covering accidental damage, while subscription units are replaced for free if a drone breaks.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.
