Adaptive Pest Management System Using Species-Specific Acoustic and Optical Deterrents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pest management systems, particularly for birds and bats, are ineffective due to habituation issues with repetitive sounds and lights, and lack of species-specific deterrents, leading to significant crop damage and structural issues.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses sensors to identify pest species and exposes them to species-specific influencing factors, such as sounds or lights, to deter or entice them away from specific locations, incorporating a database of pest features and influencing factors to reduce complacency through AI and machine learning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If repetitive sounds or lights are used to deter pests, then initial deterrence effectiveness is improved, but pest habituation occurs and effectiveness deteriorates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the characteristics of influencing factors (sound frequency, light wavelength, playback timing) based on real-time pest detection and species identification, preventing habituation by ensuring the deterrents are never exactly repetitive
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback loops where pest presence is continuously monitored, species are identified, and the selection of influencing factors is adjusted based on this feedback, creating an adaptive deterrent strategy that responds to actual pest behavior and prevents habituation
2Ease of operation
If generic deterrent methods are used, then implementation simplicity is improved, but species-specific effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed as a universal platform that can handle multiple pest species through a single integrated device, using species identification to select from multiple influencing factors, thus achieving both ease of operation and species-specific effectiveness through one multi-functional system
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters of the deterrent (sound frequency, light wavelength, playback timing) based on the identified pest species, allowing a single device to effectively target different species with species-appropriate parameters without requiring multiple different devices
3Object-affected harmful factors
If fixed netting is used to protect crops, then physical barrier protection is improved, but cost and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical physical barrier of fixed netting with an acoustic and optical influence system that actively deters pests through species-specific sounds and lights, eliminating the need for physical netting installation and maintenance while providing equivalent or superior protection
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a pest management system especially suited for the protection of crops. The pest management system can identify a particular pest species and use species-specific remedies to deter invasion of a crop or orchard area or to entice the pest species away from the crop or orchard area. In some embodiments, a deterrent system is used in conjunction with an enticement system. Part of the basis of the invention is the ability to communicate with a pest species in order to influence its behaviour.