AI summary
Summary of article:
A Chinese company has launched an AI device that can kill mosquitoes with a laser in the air. Although it claims to be able to identify targets and avoid accidental damage, the use of a Category 4 high-power laser still raises safety and regulatory concerns.
los angeles The “Photon Matrix” is developed by Light Moment Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., a Chinese startup company based in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, KTLA 5 TV station reported.artificial intelligence (AI) Laser mosquito repellent device has attracted wide attention from all walks of life. The company has also found a foundry and hopes to start mass production in a few weeks. However, some media reported that the device uses a Class 4 laser, the highest exposure level, which may lead to safety concerns about harm to human eyes. The company is currently seeking regulatory approval in China, Europe and the United States.
The $1,000 Laser Mosquito Air Defense System tracks mosquitoes in flight and uses laser light to knock them off their wings. The report notes that the device uses lidar technology similar to self-driving cars to accurately lock on to targets, and relies on artificial intelligence to determine whether it is safe to emit laser light.
The company’s official website states: “When a mosquito appears, the system will detect changes in distance and confirm the size of the target. Only when the target matches the characteristics of the mosquito, the system will emit a high-powered laser along the same optical path to deactivate the mosquito’s wings.” “The system will also generate a visible blue flash, so users can clearly detect the operation of the system.” The industry also offers an infrared version that does not produce visible flash, and is recommended for indoor environments.
This is a relatively cruel way of killing insects and the process is lengthy. Company founder Wang Chuan told The New York Times that mosquitoes with burnt wings can take hours or even days to die, during which time they “lie on the ground and keep moving.” The company said artificial intelligence can identify humans and pets to prevent laser light being fired at them. The system can also identify surfaces that may reflect laser light in unexpected directions.
The New York Times says that although the device appears to be quite effective, it is also potentially dangerous. Category 4 lasers have the highest level of power and can cause damage to the retina, and their sale and use are strictly regulated. Wang Chuan told the New York Times that he believes China’s approval is near completion.
“In the United States, manufacturers can sell new laser devices as long as they submit appropriate documentation to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the FDA will not test these products,” Ken Barrat, a former laser safety officer at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, told the New York Times.
Barrett said the company takes many steps to ensure the safety of the device, but the Class 4 laser, designed specifically for targeting small targets such as mosquitoes, can concentrate “a lot of energy” into a very small space.
Wang Chuan said the device limits each laser emission time to one hundredth of a second, which is enough time to burn mosquito wings and reduce the risk of eye injury. Additionally, buyers will have to pass a security test and log in with their fingerprint before they can start the device.
It is reported that the idea of using laser light to kill mosquitoes in the air is not new. In 2010, Intellectual Ventures, founded by Microsoft’s former chief technology officer, demonstrated a similar system, but it was ultimately not mass-produced.
Summary FAQ
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It uses lidar and AI to first detect flying mosquitoes, then determine the size and distance of the target. After confirming that it matches the specifications, it emits a laser along the same optical path to directly burn the mosquito’s wings.
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Because it uses the highest risk Category IV laser, which can cause damage to the eyes and retina, and even if there is a detection mechanism, it can still cause unexpected risks due to reflection or misjudgment.
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The company said the system can identify humans and pets, avoid surfaces that could cause laser reflections, and limit each emission to 0.01 seconds. It also requires buyers to pass security tests and log in with their fingerprints.
