French startup mounts military radar on a domestic drone to hunt mosquitoes

A French startup has developed an autonomous 40-gram drone that uses military radar technology to detect and shoot down mosquitoes by the sound of their flight.

## From war to fighting insects

The idea sounds like science fiction, but it is already a reality. A French company, **Tornyol**, has given military technology an unexpected twist, applying it to combat one of humanity's greatest health enemies: the mosquito. Every year, these tiny insects are responsible for the deaths of more than **700,000 people** and for infecting hundreds of millions more with diseases such as malaria or dengue. Against this threat, which is deadlier than armed conflicts, these innovative drones now join the fight.

## A radar to detect the buzz

The most surprising part of this development is how mosquitoes are detected. Instead of cameras or visual sensors, the drone relies on a system inspired by military radars. This system can identify the characteristic sound of a mosquito's flight. Once the target is located, the drone, using its own propellers, takes it down with a kinetic impact, similar to the physics used by anti-aircraft systems to intercept threats.

## Autonomous and lightweight drones

The result is a device weighing just **40 grams**, fully autonomous. It only needs a human to change its battery when it runs out. This technology eliminates the need for insecticides or constant manual intervention, offering a cleaner and more efficient solution for pest control. One of Tornyol's key developers, in fact, comes from the defense industry, bringing his experience to this new mission.