Pats-C (pest-killing drone)

2023: Start of Use

In early July 2023, the Dutch company Pats, formed at the Delft Technical University, announced a system of the same name designed to destroy pests in greenhouses.

The Pats complex consists of two parts - Pats-C and Pats-X. The first is an array of Internet-connected infrared cameras distributed throughout the greenhouse. Using AI-based algorithms, these devices detect and identify any flying insects in the airspace above plants. Species recognition is based on an analysis of the frequency of wing flaps and size.

Pats complex consists of two parts - Pats-C and Pats-X

If an insect found is useful, such as a bee, the system does not take any action. If this is a pest, the Pats-X module comes into play. It consists of one or more small quadcopter drones, which at rest are located on a docking station for wireless charging in a greenhouse. By signal from Pats-C, the drone is sent to the location of the insect. The drone then rams the pest, cutting it through with its propellers, after which it returns to base.

It is noted that the engines of mini-drones produce ultrasound in the same range as bats. For this reason, some species of pest butterflies evade drones as they head to the ground. The developers took this circumstance into account when creating drone control algorithms. In addition, it is proposed to reproduce such sounds through speakers in greenhouses to repel pests.

We strive to study more deeply some of the most common and harmful insect species in European greenhouses and make sure that our systems are ready to effectively combat them, said Pats biologist Dayo Jansen[1]

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