Drones

Florida Keys turns to UAVs to take on mosquitos

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Condor Aerial's Maveric UAV (Video still: Condor Aerial)
Infrared imaging equipment aboard a Maveric UAV (Video still: Condor Aerial)
The Maveric is more commonly used for law enforcement (Video still: Condor Aerial)
Condor Aerial's Maveric (Video still: Condor Aerial)
Condor Aerial's Maveric UAV (Video still: Condor Aerial)
The Maveric has also seen use in the military arena (Video still: Condor Aerial)
View gallery - 5 images

Florida Keys authorities are turning to unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with infrared cameras in their ongoing battle to control mosquitos.

According to the Keynoter's Ryan McCarthy, The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District is to test a vehicle by Condor Aerial developed for the purposes of law enforcement. However, it's hoped that the drone's infrared camera could be used to identify pools of shallow water which can host mosquito larvae, allowing the water to be treated with larvicide on the ground. (Nano-drones will not be dogfighting mosquitos one on one just yet, it seems.)

The Keynoter reports that the UAV weighs 2.2 lb (1 kg), 2.5 ft (0.7 m) long, and capable of flying 90 minutes at a time. This, combined with District Director Michael Doyle's description of the UAV as resembling a hawk, suggests the vehicle is a version of Condor Aerial's Maveric UAV.

The Keynoter reports that a test flight will take place on August 26, with a Condor Aerial employee on hand to control the vehicle from the ground.

Condor Aerial's (rather macho) promo reel for the Maveric UAV is below.

Source: Keynoter

View gallery - 5 images
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6 comments
Kong Ben
(Nano-drones will not be dogfighting mosquito's one on one just yet, it seems.) wish it happened lol
Slowburn
Entomologists we need an insect that fills the same ecological niche as mosquitoes except that they don't suck blood. Must be a good food species for all the relevant predators.
Fretting Freddy the Ferret pressing the Fret
Not to mention that they help pollinate flowers.
ezeflyer
Releasing millions of dragonflies controlled the mosquito populations naturally in Maine.
Facebook User
how about we just engineer the mosquitoes not to itch lol
Andrew Zuckerman
@sean
Yes! That's the only reason it bothers us.