Steven Cheng has developed a series of AI-powered prototypes that use lasers to target and eliminate mosquitoes. The mobile system incorporates computer vision, deep learning, and infrared sensors for precise tracking.
Cheng spent four months creating an artillery-style cannon guided by computer vision and deep learning. He equipped version 3.0 with multi-sensor tracking, a high-speed gimbal that rotates in 0.6 seconds at 0.001-degree precision, and a toy Gatling-style launcher. The setup relies on a Canon digital single-lens reflex camera with a high-magnification zoom lens. Software identifies mosquitoes while detecting humans and flammable materials to prevent accidental harm, cutting laser power when needed. Later versions added wheels for mobility, a Gatling-gun design, and infrared vision for nighttime use. Cheng documented the project on X and noted that research involved countless mosquito bites. A separate crowdfunded device called the Photon Matrix, which also uses lasers against insects, is expected to ship this summer at a starting price of about $500.
