{
  "id": 11187967,
  "title": "Chinese start-up behind laser mosquito killer plans to start shipping orders this month",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/chinese-start-up-behind-laser-mosquito-killer-plans-to-start-shipping",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-01T12:00:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3369440/chinese-start-behind-laser-mosquito-killer-plans-start-shipping-orders-month"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chinese start-up Photon Matrix Lab is set to begin shipping its innovative laser mosquito killer device this month, according to a report. The company, based in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, has been taking pre-orders for its hi-tech solution, which utilizes lidar detection and lasers to eliminate mosquitoes in the air.\n\nPhoton Matrix Lab initially aimed to produce between 3,000 and 5,000 units per month, with the first batch expected to ship later this month, as stated by the firm's sales director, Lawrence Leng. The device comes in two versions, one featuring an infrared laser and the other a blue laser, priced at $988 and $1,088 respectively. Both versions offer the same mosquito-killing performance, but the infrared version is designed for indoor settings, while the blue laser version is better suited for outdoor use, such as gardens.\n\nSince the crowdfunding stage, the start-up has received over 5,000 orders, primarily from Europe, North America, and the Middle East. The device, which resembles a power bank, uses high-precision lidar to scan its surroundings, detect small, slow-moving flying objects, and trigger its attack mechanism. It can also identify people and large animals and shut down before they enter the strike zone.\n\nPhoton Matrix Lab's founder, Wang Chuan, revealed that moving the device into commercial production took longer than expected, with mass production set to begin in July. The company faced delays and concerns over safety after achieving popularity on social media. Despite these challenges, the start-up has raised over $2.8 million in crowdfunding, far surpassing its initial goal of $20,000 on Indiegogo.",
  "summary": "People have been trying to fend off mosquitoes for thousands of years – using methods ranging from physical barriers to chemical insecticides – but a Chinese start-up is now taking pre-orders on a hi-tech solution that uses lidar detection and lasers to zap them out of the air. Photon Matrix Lab, based in Changzhou, in eastern China’s Jiangsu province, said it expected initial monthly production…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}