Conductive Tracking Material for Termite Nest Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pest control methods for subterranean pests like termites are inefficient as they do not directly locate nests, requiring regular maintenance and posing environmental risks with chemical poisons, and fail to ensure complete eradication of pest populations.

Innovation Solution

A pest control system that uses selectively consumed metals like gold, zinc, and other alkaline earth and transition metals to track termites back to their nests, employing a detector with a sensing head and pest sensing circuit to generate signals for locating and indicating the presence of the nest, utilizing a conducting tracking material that termites ingest, allowing for efficient detection and eradication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If physical traps or chemical traps are used to prevent pest entry or poison pests, then pest control is achieved, but regular maintenance is required which increases cost and time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepest control effectivenessVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows pests to actively transport the conductive tracking material back to the nest, where it accumulates to detectable levels. This self-transport mechanism eliminates the need for operator maintenance and continuous monitoring of traps, as the pests themselves perform the tracking function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The conductive tracking material serves as an intermediary substance that pests ingest and transport. This material acts as a passive tracker that accumulates at the nest, enabling detection without requiring active intervention or maintenance by operators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If physical traps or chemical traps are used to control pests, then some pest control is achieved, but the pest population is not completely eradicated as nests are not directly located

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepest control effectivenessVSAvoidnest location accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual inspection and physical trap-based methods with an electrical detection system. The conductance loop detector electronically senses the accumulated conductive material at the nest, providing precise nest location information without requiring physical excavation or manual searching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback by detecting the presence and concentration of conductive material at potential nest locations. This feedback mechanism guides operators to the actual nest sites, enabling targeted treatment and complete eradication rather than random or preventive treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If chemical poisons are used to control pests, then pest elimination is achieved, but environmental risk is increased to other animals and humans

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepest elimination effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the pests' natural behavior of consuming metal-containing materials into a beneficial tracking mechanism. Instead of using toxic chemicals to kill pests, the harmless conductive material is used to track and locate nests, allowing for targeted physical removal or treatment that eliminates pests without environmental contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts and removes the harmful chemical poison component from pest control, replacing it with a harmless conductive tracking material. This extraction of the toxic element while retaining the pest control function through precise nest location and targeted treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This system enables efficient location and eradication of termite nests by tracking foraging termites, reducing the time and cost associated with traditional methods and minimizing environmental impact by using edible, conductive materials.

Implementation Method 1

a sensing head comprising an electrical conductance loop; and a pest sensing circuit configured to sense the electrical continuity of the presence of the conducting tracking material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS11000027B2Pest control system

Publication Date: 2021.05.11 GEKA SOLUTIONS PTY LTD

AI summary

A pest control system for tracking and locating the nest of the pest to improve the efficiency of pest control. The pest control system comprising a detector for detecting pests which have consumed a conducting tracking material; the detector comprising a sensing head comprising an electrical conductance loop; and a pest sensing circuit configured to sense the electrical continuity of the presence of the conducting tracking material to generate a first pest signal and comprising at least one indicator configured to indicate the first pest signal received from the sensing head. The pest control system also comprises a sensor probe comprising a body configured for inserting into a substrate to indicate the presence of a pest colony; and at least one sensor electrically connected to the pest sensing circuit and configured to generate a second pest signal to be indicated on the at least one indicator.