Insect Detection Using Remote Ultrasonic Sensors
IC2 proposes to build a low-cost novel ultrasonic sensor, optimized for use in the detection of insects. This will be integrated with IC2’s already commercially available wireless data acquisition system, WirelessArray®, for detecting pest insects in a variety of applications. Pests present in farms, processing facilities, and in transit cause billions of dollars in damage annually as their presence damages crops and disqualifies yield from meeting human-grade quality standards. This novel monitoring system seeks to aid in the identification and classification of pests throughout the supply chain through wireless sensor arrays and advanced algorithmic post-processing.
Acoustic Signals of Varying Pest Species
Insects produce noise signals both in the audio and ultrasonic range with varying time and frequency domain signatures. Early identification of pests enables farmers and industrial food processors to target their treatment both in location and methodology. By leveraging distributed wireless sensor nodes, this project aims to provide new tools to these industries.
IC2 will develop a wavelet library and leverage large data sets to build an accurate database upon which to compare incoming signals against for the identification of insect species. Initial prototype algorithm targets are narrow in their number of species identification to validate methods with larger data sets being implemented in a Phase II follow-on.
Adapting Aerospace Technologies for Agriculture
IC2’s WirelessArray® is a field-deployable, wireless data-acquisition system for ground-test arrays, applicable in noise-source localization or beamforming measurements such as those encountered during airframe noise flyover measurement tests. These sensors aim to greatly reduce recurring costs associated with array deployment by eliminating miles of cable runs to individual nodes and removing the need to protect each sensor against impending weather events through its environmentally hardened enclosure. The wireless sensing nodes are standalone, Wi-Fi enabled, weatherproof devices with a user-replaceable sensor module, data transmission and time synchronization hardware, and an ample battery with solar and USB-C charging capabilities.
Through this project, IC2 will develop an ultrasonic microphone, specifically tuned to the frequencies of interest, and machine-assisted detection for agricultural pests. IC2’s proposed solution will provide:
- a novel acoustic and ultrasonic sensor
- data acquisition hardware and software
- algorithmic development for pest identification
- beamforming arrays that localize pests for rapid response
