AI-powered device can fight against malaria by detecting and repelling mosquitoes
A Southampton student who experienced firsthand the devastating impact of malaria while growing up in Cameroon has invented a novel mosquito-repelling gadget.
A Southampton student has invented an AI-powered mosquito-repelling device called ISARS (Intelligent Species-Specific Acoustic Repulsion System). The gadget detects and repels mosquitoes using sound, specifically targeting the species most likely to transmit malaria. ISARS emits a subtle, non-disruptive sound that interferes with the mosquito's navigation, with the frequency continually adapting.
Unlike existing protection methods, ISARS requires no chemicals, internet connection, or complex infrastructure, and is small and low-cost. The device emits a sound that is not loud enough to disturb people's sleep and could be suitable for use in remote communities. Ulrich Mefenya Tanetsing, the 23-year-old master's student behind ISARS, was motivated to create the device after witnessing the devastating impact of malaria in Cameroon and growing up with the disease himself.
Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, with hundreds of thousands of deaths recorded annually, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. Tanetsing will pitch his innovation at the Royal Academy of Engineering in London and at VentureFest South's Festival of Innovation in Southampton.
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