Project Hub /Artificial Intelligence & Edge ML/Object Detection & Tracking/Laser device for neutralizing - mosquitoes

Advanced

RASPBERRY PI

> ₹15,000

1 – 2 Days

Partial Kit

Laser device for neutralizing - mosquitoes

An open-source machine vision system that tracks pests via cameras and targets them using a laser steered by galvanometer mirrors.

Originally published on Hackaday.io

View original tutorial

Parts You'll Need

This project is sourced from another site, not written by us — this list is our best match of their components against what we stock, not a verified bill of materials. Always check the original blog (linked above) for the actual parts list before buying.

Raspberry Pi 3 - Model B+ 1.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core Processor with 1 GB Ram (Original) Rs. 9,810.00
ESP32 CAM WiFi Module Bluetooth with OV2640 Camera Rs. 1,483.00
MB102 Adjustable Breadboard Power Supply Module (3.3V & 5V) for Arduino & Raspberry Pi Rs. 139.00
400 Points Mini Solderless Prototype PCB Breadboard High Quality Rs. 89.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Male 20cm Rs. 45.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Female 20cm Rs. 45.00

Selected: Rs. 0.00

We don't carry yet: Laser / LiDAR / ToF Sensor
ADC / DAC (ADS1115 / MCP3008 / MCP4725)
Speaker / Audio Amplifier
Galvanometer with mirrors
driver boards

Browse all components

How It Works

This advanced automated pest-control system relies on a high-speed edge computing platform, specifically a Raspberry Pi 5 or NVIDIA Jetson Nano, to run computer vision algorithms. Connected Pi Cameras capture high-resolution video frames of the surrounding area in real time. The processing board runs a lightweight object detection model, YOLOv4-tiny, accelerated by Python, OpenCV, and NumPy, to identify mosquitoes within the camera's field of view. Once a target is detected and its coordinates are calculated by the software, the system commands the hardware actuators. Because standard mechanical pan-tilt servos are too slow for tracking fast-moving insects, the system utilizes a pair of galvanometer mirrors driven by specialized driver boards. To translate the digital coordinate outputs from the edge processor into the analog control signals required by the galvanometers, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC such as the mcp4922) is used, often supplemented by operational amplifier boards to condition and scale the voltage levels. Finally, the galvanometer mirrors precisely steer a 1W high-power laser beam onto the tracked target coordinates to neutralize the pest.

Why Build This

Design and implement a real-time embedded edge-AI computer vision pipeline combining YOLOv4-tiny and OpenCV for high-speed object tracking.

Interface digital microcontrollers with precision analog hardware like DACs, operational amplifiers, and high-speed galvanometer mirror drivers.

Explore advanced automation applications in precision agriculture, vector-borne disease vector mitigation, and automated optomechanical targeting.

Real-World Application

Automated pest control in agriculture, vector-borne disease prevention by neutralizing mosquitoes, and targeted weed elimination.

Skills You'll Learn

Edge AI model deployment

real-time computer vision processing

digital-to-analog conversion

operational amplifier signal conditioning

galvanometer mirror control

Python programming

Safety Precautions

High-power lasers pose severe, irreversible risks to human vision, including retinal damage and blindness. The system can cause harm via direct hits or reflections, even outside the direct field of view. Use caution, implement additional security measures, and strongly consider using a safe laser pointer rather than a high-power burning laser.

Technology Tags

PYTHON

OPENCV

NEURAL NETWORK

MACHINE VISION

GALVANOMETER

LASER

STEREOVISION

YOLOV4

HAAR CASCADES

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use galvanometer mirrors instead of standard stepper motors or servos?

Galvanometer mirrors use magnetic fields to tilt mirrors with extreme speed and precision, whereas standard stepper motors and servos are far too slow to track fast-moving insects in real time.

What is the purpose of the DAC (mcp4922) and operational amplifier boards?

The Raspberry Pi or Jetson Nano outputs digital signals, but the galvanometer driver boards require precise analog voltages to position the mirrors; the DAC converts these digital values, and the op-amps condition and scale the signals.

Can I substitute a lower-power laser or a standard laser pointer?

Yes, for safety and prototyping reasons, substituting a lower-power or safe laser pointer is strongly recommended to minimize the severe optical hazards associated with 1W burning lasers.

Gallery

This page is part of Kitkraft's Project Hub — a curated collection of electronics & robotics projects gathered from the maker community to help students and hobbyists discover and learn to build. Kitkraft does not claim authorship of the original project, and makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness or safety of third-party source material. The summary and "How It Works" explanation above are AI-generated, rewritten with reference to the original tutorial — not a reproduction of it. Full credit and a direct link to the original source are provided above. If you're the original creator and have a concern about how your work is represented here, please contact us and we'll address it promptly.

Kitkraft Project Hub — curated from the maker community, credited at the source.

PRJ-00590