A French startup called Tornyol is developing an unusual answer to a familiar summer problem: mosquitoes. The company’s ultra-light drone, weighing about 40 grams, is designed to find the insects in flight and knock them out of the air instead of relying on sprays, candles or skin-applied repellents.
What makes the device stand out is its sensing system. According to the report, the drone uses 380 microphones to pick up mosquito wingbeats, allowing it to detect and track the tiny targets before moving in to intercept them. The concept borrows from precision guidance ideas, which fits the article’s note that former missile engineers helped build it.
The pitch is simple: a chemical-free mosquito control tool that actively hunts insects around people during outdoor gatherings. Rather than creating a protective scent barrier, Tornyol’s drone is aimed at physically removing mosquitoes from the immediate area by colliding with them mid-air.
The reported price is $1,100, placing the product in a premium category for now. Even so, the idea highlights how drone miniaturization and advanced sensing are being applied to pest control in a way that feels closer to aerospace engineering than traditional backyard bug defense.
