Electromagnetically Coupled Drones for Wide-Net Insect Swarm Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for managing insect swarms using drones are inefficient and environmentally hazardous, as they rely on individual drone units and chemical pesticides, which are toxic and harmful to the environment.

Innovation Solution

A system of collaborating drones equipped with net casting units, high voltage generators, and coupling units to form a wider electromagnetic net, which traps and decapitates insects using high voltage, while also incorporating environment data capture and chemical dispensing units to attract and manage insect swarms effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If individual drones are used to electrocute insects, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity is insufficient to eliminate insect pests from large agricultural fields

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsect elimination coverageVSAvoiddrone system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple individual drones are merged into a coordinated swarm system that operates as a unified entity. The drones work together in formation to cover large agricultural fields simultaneously, with each drone contributing to the collective insect elimination capability, thereby achieving high productivity without requiring overly complex individual drone designs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The large agricultural field is segmented into multiple zones, each covered by specific drones within the swarm. This segmentation allows the system to manage and control insect elimination across vast areas by dividing the task among multiple simpler drone units rather than requiring one highly complex drone to handle the entire field

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If chemical pesticides are used for insect management, then the ease of operation is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to toxicity and environmental hazard

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsect management simplicityVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Chemical pesticides are replaced with a mechanical/electrical system where drones equipped with electrocuting devices physically eliminate insects through controlled electrical discharge. This substitution eliminates the need for toxic chemicals while maintaining operational simplicity through automated drone swarms that can be remotely controlled or programmed to manage insect pests effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potentially harmful interaction between insects and electrical fields into a beneficial outcome. By using controlled electrical discharge from drones, insects are eliminated without introducing environmental toxins, thereby transforming a potentially harmful method into an environmentally safe solution that maintains ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

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

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 solution enables the effective management of insect swarms in agricultural fields and urban areas with a safer, environmentally friendly approach, using drones to detect, track, and decapitate insects within a wider netted area, reducing chemical usage and environmental harm.

Implementation Method 1

a coupling unit configured to magnetize one or more drone couplers for electromagnetically coupling two or more of the plurality of drones as per a dynamically determined drone formation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

Each of the plurality of drones may further include a high voltage generator configured to generate the high voltage. The net, upon casting, is supplied with a high voltage to decapitate the insects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHigh voltage electrical discharge: Electric Spark

Data Source

PatentUS12171217B2Method for managing an insect swarm using drones

Publication Date: 2024.12.24 HCL TECH LTD

AI summary

This disclosure relates to system and method for managing an insect swarm using a plurality of drones. The method includes detecting an insect swarm. The method may further include tracking a movement of the insect swarm. The method further includes communicating, with remaining of the plurality of drones, to dynamically align in a position based on the tracking so as to make a drone formation. The method further includes magnetizing, by at least some of the plurality of drones, one or more drone couplers for electromagnetically coupling the at least some of the plurality of drones with each other as per the drone formation. The method further includes casting, by each of the plurality of drones, a net to trap insects in the insect swarm. The method further includes supplying, by each of the plurality of drones, a high voltage to the net to decapitate the insects.