- Small 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 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 built-in 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 price.
Early test results
In an early test, the company reported that the drone detected a 2 mm wide plastic ball from 30 centimeters that used only 1/1300 of the intended transmit 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 toward completely eradicating mosquitoes,” and described 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, and it requires 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.
When the battery is getting low, the drone will automatically return to its charging station and start recharging.
The recharging process takes about 30 minutes, after which the device automatically resumes its patrol program.
For continuous protection throughout the day, the system intelligently controls and adjusts patrol schedules over time.
Hardware, implementation and design choices
The drone uses TDK InvenSense T3902 MEMS microphones for its sonar array and uses 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 suggest the prototype could be mass-produced for a few hundred dollars, though a scaled-down version could cost less.
Toussaint’s background at MBDA, a European missile maker, suggests that the underlying sonar and interception system could be extended to 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 associated with the underlying sonar technology thus far.
On Tornyol’s website, the drone is marketed as a silent, chemical-free alternative to pesticides, with a $100 refundable deposit reserving a seat.
Buyers can choose a subscription plan that can be canceled at any time, or a one-time purchase that provides outright ownership with no recurring fees.
Owned units come with a one-year warranty that covers accidental damage, while subscription units are replaced for free if a drone breaks.
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