Robotic pest removal system

• US 20060204531A1
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VMI Foundation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VMI Foundation, Inc.
• Inventors: Sonenshine, Daniel E., Squire, James C., Livingston, David L., Woulfe, Justin H., Hammond, Glenn B., Sullivan, Gerald Allen Jr., Crump, Dennis J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,441,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/405
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/02 with devices or substances, e.g. food, pheronones attracting the insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/023 Attracting insects by the simulation of a living being, i.e. emission of carbon dioxide, heat, sound waves or vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/145 Attracting and catching insects using combined illumination or colours and adhesive surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/20 Poisoning, narcotising, or burning insects fumigation apparatus A01M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 2200/011 Crawling insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 5/06 with adhesive surfaces

Abstract

An autonomous robotic system and method for removing pests from a specific location. The robotic system of the invention preferably comprises a means for attracting pests to at least one specific location; and a robotic means for collecting and/or exterminating pests attracted to the specified location. In certain embodiments, the robotic means comprises a mobile robot and a means for navigating the robotic means. In operation, pests are attracted to at least one location by an attracting means, and these pests are then collected and/or exterminated by a mobile, autonomous robot of the invention.

Claims

1. An automated pest control method comprising:

attracting a pest to at least one location;

utilizing at least one mobile robotic mechanism to monitor the location(s); and

delivering a pest controlling amount of a pesticide with the mobile robotic mechanism(s),

such that a pest present at the location(s) will be exposed to a pest controlling amount of the pesticide.

2. The pest control method according to claim 1, wherein said pest is selected from the group consisting of:

Nematodes (Nematoda);

mites (Acari);

spiders (Acarina);

millipedes (Diplopoda);

centipedes (Chilopoda);

lice (Anoplura);

wood lice (Isopoda);

mosquitoes (Culicidae);

blackflies (Simuliidae);

sand flies (Phlebotominae);

biting midges (Ceratopogonidae);

horseflies (Tabanidae);

termites (Isoptera);

tsetse flies (Glossinidae);

stable flies and house flies (Muscidae);

fleas (Siphonaptera);

triatomine bugs (Triatominae);

soft ticks (Argasidae); and

hard ticks (Ixodidae).

3. The pest control method according to claim 1, wherein attracting a pest comprises distributing a chemoattractant to the location(s), wherein said chemoattractant is selected from the group consisting of CO₂, 1-octen-3-ol, 2-nitrophenol, H₂S, hypoxanthine, xanthine, inosine, adenine, hematin, sex attractant pheromones (such as 2,6, -dichlorophenol), and octenol.

4. The pest control method according to claim 3, wherein said chemoattractant is distributed along at least one length(s) of perforated tubing.

5. The pest control method according to claim 4, wherein said length(s) of perforated tubing are positioned around the perimeter of an area in which a pest is to be controlled.

6. The pest control method according to claim 4, further comprising electrical wiring following substantially the same path as the tubing.

7. The pest control method according to claim 1, wherein said mobile robotic mechanism(s) is guided along a predetermined path to, or in the direction of, said location(s) to which a pest is attracted.

8. The pest control method according to claim 6, wherein the mobile robotic mechanism(s) comprise sensors that detect a signal emitted by said electrical wiring such that the mobile robotic mechanism(s) is guided by said sensors along substantially the same path as the electrical wiring.

9. The pest control method according to claim 1, wherein said mobile robotic mechanism(s) further comprises a covering to which a pest can adhere.

10. The pest control method, according to claim 9, wherein said covering is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene cloth, adhesive, nets, meshes, toweling, and loudspeaker grill cloth.

11. The pest control method, according to claim 10, wherein said covering further comprises an alternating stripe pattern or other visual contrast known to attract a pest.

12. The pest control method, according to claim 11, wherein said covering further comprises one or more chemoattractants.

13. The pest control method, according to claim 11, wherein said covering further comprises a pest controlling effective amount of a pesticide.

14. The pest control method, according to claim 13, wherein said pesticide is pyrethroid permethrin.

15. The pest control method, according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance of the mobile robotic mechanism is performed automatically.

16. The pest control method, according to claim 15, wherein said maintenance is performed at a service station, wherein said service station can receive and communicate with said mobile robotic mechanism.

17. A pest control system comprising:

one or more lengths of perforated tubing for distributing a chemoattractant to at least one location(s);

at least one mobile robotic mechanism(s) for monitoring one or more location(s) where chemoattractant is distributed and delivering a pest controlling amount of a pesticide to said location(s); and

at least one service station(s) accessible by a mobile robotic mechanism(s),

wherein said service station automatically maintains the functions of and/or replenishes the resources of the mobile robotic mechanism.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the functions and/or resources of the mobile robotic mechanism that are maintained or replenished by the one or more service stations are selected from the group consisting of:

charging batteries;

removal of pests and other detritus;

exterminating pests (such as using a pesticide);

replenishing a dispenser or robot covering with pesticide;

replenishing a dispenser or robot covering with chemoattractant; and

sterilizing the robot (for example using shortwave UV radiation).

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said service station further comprises a means for transmitting navigation signals to a mobile robotic mechanism.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said chemoattractant is distributed from the service station(s) via the one or more lengths of tubing.