American researchers have collaborated with Microsoft Tech to develop a drone capable of capturing mosquitoes. Objective: to fight against the spread of epidemics.
Bzzz here, Bzzz over there … Mosquitoes and drones have one thing in common: they annoy as quickly as they fly. But in the near future, one will be tasked with chasing the other. Researchers from the Universities of Pittsburgh and Johns Hopkins have collaborated with researchers at Microsoft Tech, to develop a new type of drone. The “Premonition Project” is its name, is a drone system that aims to track down mosquitoes that spread epidemics of infectious diseases.
By tracking down the mosquito, the primary vector of diseases such as dengue or malaria, the drone could fight epidemics more effectively, and in particular in areas that are usually difficult to access. Indeed, by capturing them, drones could help scientists understand how diseases turn into epidemics, but also classify diseases that risk spreading locally and therefore anticipate them.
The researchers who developed this new mosquito trap explain that the drone uses less energy and relies on lighter batteries than other models. For the latter, “Premonition Project” would therefore prevent major health disasters.
The main objective is to create a database of diseases of which each mosquito is a carrier in order to anticipate the risks of epidemics for humans and animals.
Douglas Norris, professor of immunology and molecular microbiology at Johns Hopkins University in Bloomberg, explained that “the ability to predict an epidemic would be enormous.” The project, currently in development, could see the light of day by 2020.
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