Kill cockroaches with AI aiming laser

Three researchers from Heriot Watt University, Paul Sabatier University and Sussex University have developed an AI based device equipped with lasers that can be used to automatically shoot cockroaches. In a paper published in the journal Oriental Insights, Ildar Rakhmatulin, Mathieu Lihoreau and Jose Pueyo described the device and its performance when tested on real insects.

Schematic diagram of laser device: 1-transparent box with cockroaches, 2-Pi camera, 3-Jetson nano, 4-laser, 5-galvanometer, 6-laser beam, L-distance between laser device and target. Source: Oriental Insights (2022) DOI: 10.1080/00305316.2022.2121777

People have made many attempts to create cockroach killing products, and have achieved varying degrees of success. A serious disadvantage of most of these products is that pesticides can be harmful to people, pets and the general environment. In this new study, researchers have adopted a new method to solve the problem of laser beam.

One of the team members, Ildar Rakhmatulin, had experience in killing insects with laser beams. He and his colleagues developed a mosquito control device based on artificial intelligence. In this new study, the researchers modified the early equipment to focus on cockroaches.

The algorithm of laser neutralizing cockroaches.

The design is simple. The researchers started with the Jetson Nano, a small electronic device that runs machine learning software. They added two cameras, a galvanometer and a configurable laser. The galvanometer is used to receive data from the AI device and use the data it receives to change the direction of the laser.

Once the equipment was built, the researchers tested it in the laboratory. They found that their equipment could accurately identify and shoot cockroaches. They also found that they could fine tune the laser to adapt to different types of impacts, similar to the "Star Trek" phase shifter. If they want, they can knock cockroaches unconscious, which researchers point out usually causes victims to change direction. Or, they can set the laser to kill, and it can do this.

Cockroach training experiment process: A. ROI of laser neutralization group and control group; B. Laser group; C. Demonstrate the operation of a 100 mW laser.

The researchers insist that they have no intention of promoting their own devices, and have posted images for training on GitHub and their tracking data set on kaggle Com. Anyone who wants to use the strategies outlined in their paper can freely make their own devices. They noted that the cost was approximately $250. They also noted that those who choose to do so should be careful, because the laser used will cause blindness if it enters the eyes directly.

Results of 0.5 second laser irradiation: A, cockroaches are detected; B. Killing cockroaches with 300 mv laser; C. 1.6 W laser to kill cockroaches; D. Cockroach box was used as control group and laser group.

Source:Selective neutralisation and deterring of cockroaches with laser automated by machine vision, Oriental Insects (2022). DOI: 10.1080/00305316.2022.2121777