Predict 3D position of flying bugs and pest to shoot down them with a laser

#1

Post by giuliomagnifico » Fri, Dec 31, 2021, 8:51 PM UTC

Predict 3D position of flying bugs and pest to shoot down them with a laser
naro.go.jp

Re: Predict 3D position of flying bugs and pest to shoot down them with a laser

#2

Post by kurthr » Fri, Dec 31, 2021, 9:26 PM UTC

One key thing is that flying bugs might be hiding under leaves, which doesn't even require any tracking, but matching their favorite plants... and hopefully scaring them with an optical flash so they can be tracked.

Re: Predict 3D position of flying bugs and pest to shoot down them with a laser

#3

Post by toomuchtodo » Fri, Dec 31, 2021, 9:27 PM UTC

kurthr wrote: post #2

One key thing is that flying bugs might be hiding under leaves, which doesn't even require any tracking, but matching their favorite plants... and hopefully scaring them with an optical flash so they can be tracked.

Beacon lights to draw them out?

Re: Predict 3D position of flying bugs and pest to shoot down them with a laser

#4

Post by snek_case » Fri, Dec 31, 2021, 9:36 PM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #3

kurthr wrote: post #2

One key thing is that flying bugs might be hiding under leaves, which doesn't even require any tracking, but matching their favorite plants... and hopefully scaring them with an optical flash so they can be tracked.

Beacon lights to draw them out?

Should be possible to modulate the intensity of the laser pretty easily with a modern diode-based laser (so that you can avoid damaging the plant).

Re: Predict 3D position of flying bugs and pest to shoot down them with a laser

#5

Post by giuliomagnifico » Fri, Dec 31, 2021, 9:42 PM UTC

kurthr wrote: post #2

One key thing is that flying bugs might be hiding under leaves, which doesn't even require any tracking, but matching their favorite plants... and hopefully scaring them with an optical flash so they can be tracked.

I think this system (laser) will work from the ground (where there're the crops) to the sky, before the bugs will touch the leaves, not froun ground to ground level. So there will be no trouble in shoot down the bugs when they're flying some meters above the ground.

Re: Predict 3D position of flying bugs and pest to shoot down them with a laser

#6

Post by jjcm » Fri, Dec 31, 2021, 9:44 PM UTC

It says the prediction is accurate to 1.4cm, but it doesn’t say at what range. 1.4cm at 1km is great, but 1.4cm at 1m likely isn’t usable.

I’m also curious what the failsafes are like for this - how will they prevent laser spillover or misfires from hitting eyes? Even if this is a 1 in a million chance, it likely isn’t worth it except in highly remote areas.

Re: Predict 3D position of flying bugs and pest to shoot down them with a laser

#7

Post by yakshaving_jgt » Fri, Dec 31, 2021, 9:46 PM UTC

This sounds very similar to that old idea for protecting African families from female Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes[0].

I think the idea never took off, and I’m still not sure why.

[0]: https://youtu.be/hqKafI7Amd8

Re: Predict 3D position of flying bugs and pest to shoot down them with a laser

#8

Post by jacquesm » Fri, Dec 31, 2021, 9:49 PM UTC

Firestarter for sure.

Re: Predict 3D position of flying bugs and pest to shoot down them with a laser

#9

Post by mattbee » Fri, Dec 31, 2021, 9:50 PM UTC

The illustration is hilarious - appears to be a gigawatt laser scoring a hit on Mothra.

Re: Predict 3D position of flying bugs and pest to shoot down them with a laser

#10

Post by the_only_law » Fri, Dec 31, 2021, 9:56 PM UTC

yakshaving_jgt wrote: post #7

This sounds very similar to that old idea for protecting African families from female Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes[0]. I think the idea never took off, and I’m still not sure why. [0]: https://youtu.be/hqKafI7Amd8

Everytime this idea comes up, I can’t imagine a laser powerful enough to kill even small insects not running the risk of collateral damage, burning things around it.