Research topic: Laser on drone for shoot injects (e.g. Colorado beetle (potatos) and stink bug (orchards))
Very early research / startup... so basic website :/ Work in progress. Focussing on lab work at the moment.
More glamerous website: www.bughunter360.com
Progress:
- EU funding acquired: Project defended by Photonic professor (technical) and economics professor (business): Passed jury of 12 professors! (feasible in terms of weight / cost / power consumption / tech ... )
- VUB photonics department concluded in milestone 1: Laser is safe for human eyes! (This was main technical risk)
- Side conditions verified (energy / weight / cost).
- Very powerful laser, very lightweight (and cool!): here
Photonic insectices are a real solution to the problems of insecticides. Lowering CO2 emittions by two orders of magnitude, and solving all problems like degrading soil quality, loss of polinators, etc ... Its safe, super energy efficient, and easy to scale. Sustainable laser-based technology for insect pest control are the future.
Of course politicians only talk, but do nothing concrete (like establish technology).
Scientist are ringing the alarm bell about the effects of pesticides, which are unsustainable:
https://www.foodwatch.org/en/85-ngos-call-for-pesticide-exit
https://www.savebeesandfarmers.eu/eng
https://www.pan-europe.info/blog/pesticide-action-week-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://www.beyondpesticides.org/about/contact-us
https://www.organicseurope.bio/about-us/how-we-work/#board-council
https://www.arc2020.eu/eu-must-make-pesticide-reduction-a-reality-125-organisations/
https://corporateeurope.org/en/2023/11/sabotaging-eu-pesticide-reduction-law-sur
https://friendsoftheearth.eu/news/eu-parliament-pesticides-who-supported-farmers-people-and-nature/
https://www.clientearth.org/latest/documents/79-organisations-voice-their-concerns-on-the-reform-of-pesticides-statistics/
https://effat.org/in-the-spotlight/the-time-for-delay-is-over-eu-must-phase-out-pesticides-and-build-sustainable-food-systems/
https://europeanlandowners.org/about/
https://www.env-health.org/topics/pesticides/
https://www.investigate-europe.eu/posts/pesticide-business-lobby-in-brussels
https://ejfoundation.org/news-media/20-years-battling-pesticides
Research projects:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00305316.2022.2121777#abstract
<Link to research project related to laser drone in not yet available -- but research project started at VUB>
Most Recent News:
A rough prototype of a drone with high power laser has been developed, see it fly here, here, and here.
Note: an alternative to laser drones for pest control may be an electrocuting arm on a drone: here.
A first tool has been developed to calculate the zone wherein no humans should be present around the optical device (nominal safety zone calculator).
A second tool has been developed to calculate the energy consumption of a drone version.
A first patent has been granted in the UK, other patents are pending.
Active research is being performed by research institutes: https://lasersafety.com/resources/laser-safety-guide/
Note: the website will become replace the old website www.bughunter360.com in the near future. It is currently still a bit basic.