This disclosure relates generally to drones, and more particularly to
system and method for managing an insect swarm using drones.
Background
[002] Every year, global yield of agricultural crops suffers significantly from
crop loss. Insect pests, such as locusts, are a common problem faced by the
agricultural community around the world. Further, sewers and residences in urban
regions house mosquitoes, which are carriers of deadly diseases such as Malaria,
Dengue, Filariasis, and the like. Conventionally, the crops, urban sewers, and indoors
of residences are subjected to chemical treatment (such as, pesticides, insectides,
and the like) as a preventive measure. However, such chemicals are toxic (often
carcinogenic), and environmentally hazardous in nature.
[003] Drone technology has been used exhaustively in various aspects of
agriculture such as spraying insecticides in a farm, remote sensing, precision
agriculture, and the like. In the present state of art, techniques for electrocuting insects
using drones exist. However, such techniques deploy drones as individual units.
Eliminating insect pests from a large agricultural field may not be feasible through such
techniques.
[004] There is, therefore, a need in the present state of art for techniques to
effectively manage insect swarms using drones. There is also a need in the present
state of art for evironmentally safe techniques to manage insect swarms.
SUMMARY
[005] In one embodiment, a system for managing an insect swarm is
disclosed. In one example, the system may include a plurality of drones configured to
collaborate with each other to manage an insect swarm. Each of the plurality of drones
may include a net casting unit configured to cast a net to trap insects in the insect
swarm. The net, upon casting, is supplied with a high voltage to decapacitate the
insects. Each of the plurality of drones may further include a coupling unit configured
Docket No.: IIP-HCL-P0029
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to magnetize one or more drone couplers for electromagnetically coupling two or more
of the plurality of drones as per a dynamically determined drone formation to cast a
wider net and to arrest further movement of the insects in the insect swarm
[006] In one embodiment, a drone is disclosed. In one example, the drone
may include an environment data capturing unit configured to capture environment
data. The environment data is processed to detect and track the insect swarm and to
sense obstacles in a flight path of the drone. The drone may further include a flight
control unit configured to navigate the drone and to avoid the obstacles based the
detection and tracking. The drone may further include a plurality of fans, each with an
insect shield configured to prevent the insects from interfering with the fan. The drone
may further include a power source configured to provide power to the drone. The
drone may further include a high voltage generator configured to generate the high
voltage. The drone may further include a net casting unit configured to cast a net to
trap insects in the insect swarm. The net, upon casting, is supplied with a high voltage
to decapacitate the insects. The drone may further include a coupling unit configured
to magnetize one or more drone coupler for electromagnetic coupling the drone with
one or more of other drones as per a dynamically determined drone formation to cast
a wider net and to arrest further movement of the insects in the insect swarm. The
drone may further include a chemical dispensing unit disposed towards a base portion
of the net and configured to release one or more chemicals that attract the insects to
the base portion of the net.
[007] In one embodiment, a method for managing an insect swarm is
disclosed. In one example, the method may include detecting, by at least one of a
plurality of drones, an insect swarm. The method may further include tracking, by the
at least one of a plurality of drones, a movement of the insect swarm. The method may
further include communicating, by the at least one of the plurality of drones with
remaining of the plurality of drones, to dynamically align in a position based on the
tracking so as to make a drone formation. The method may further include
magnetizing, by at least some of the plurality of drones, one or more drone couplers
for electromagnetically coupling the at least some of the plurality of drones with each
other as per the drone formation. The method may further include casting, by each of
the plurality of drones, a net to trap insects in the insect swarm. The method may
further include supplying, by each of the plurality of drones, a high voltage to the net
to decapacitate the insects.
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[008] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and
the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not
restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[009] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute
a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the
description, serve to explain the disclosed principles.
[010] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary drone for managing an insect swarm, in
accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[011] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary drone formation for managing an insect
swarm, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[012] FIG. 3 illustrates another exemplary drone formation for managing an
insect swarm, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[013] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary process for managing
an insect swarm, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[014] Exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the
accompanying drawings. Wherever convenient, the same reference numbers are
used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. While examples and
features of disclosed principles are described herein, modifications, adaptations, and
other implementations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the
disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the following detailed description be
considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the
following claims.
[015] Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary drone 100 for managing an
insect swarm is illustrated, in accordance with some embodiments of the present
disclosure. By way of an example, the insect swarm may include insects belonging to
one or more taxonomical orders such as, but not limited to, Orthoptera, Lepidoptera,
Diptera, Thysanoptera, and Plecoptera. It may be noted that the drone 100 may be a
part of a drone formation which may include a plurality of drones. The drone 100 may
include an environment data capturing unit 101, a flight control unit 102, a plurality of
Docket No.: IIP-HCL-P0029
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fans (such as a fan 103a and a fan 103b), a power source 104, a high voltage
generator 105, a net casting unit 106, a coupling unit 107, a chemical dispensing unit
108, and an insulating handle 111. The environment data capturing unit 101 may
include a sound generator and detector 109 and a camera 110. In an embodiment, the
environment data capturing unit 101 may further include a motion sensor (not shown
in figure) for detecting and tracking the insect swarm based on movement of the
insects in the insect swarm. The environment data capturing unit 101 is configured to
detect the insect swarm and track the movement of the insect swarm using each of
the sound generator and detector 109, the camera 110, and the motion sensor.
Further, the sound generator and detector 109 may generate sound waves to dislodge
the insects from their resting places.
[016] The flight control unit 102 may include a wireless remote control
module configured to receive and transmit signals for navigating the drone and
avoiding the obstacles based on the detection and tracking. In an embodiment, the
flight control unit 102 receive signals from a central controlling unit (not shown in
figure). In another embodiment, the flight control unit 102 may include a processor and
a computer-readable medium (such as, a memory). The computer-readable medium
may store processor-executable instructions, which on execution, may cause the
processor to autonomously control the drone 100 and dynamically manage the insect
swarm, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The computer-readable
storage medium may also store various data (for example, environment data, drone
formation data, and the like) that may be captured, processed, and/or required by the
drone 100.
[017] The plurality of fans 103a and 103b may be configured to assist in flight
of the drone. Each of the plurality of fans 103a and 103b may include an insect shield
configured to prevent the insects from interfering with the fan. The power source 104
is configured to provide power to the drone. The high voltage generator 105 is
configured to generate the high voltage from the power source 104 for the net casting
unit 106. The net casting unit 106 is configured to cast a net to trap insects in the insect
swarm. The net includes a set of electrically conductive threads and a set of insulators
112 disposed between each of the two electrically conductive threads. The net, upon
casting, is supplied with the high voltage from the high voltage generator 105 to
decapacitate the insects. In some embodiments, each of the set of electrically
Docket No.: IIP-HCL-P0029
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insulated threads of the net is supplied with the high voltage in a range of about 20000
volts to about 100000 volts.
[018] The chemical dispensing unit 108 is configured to be disposed towards
a base portion of the net and is configured to release one or more chemicals that
attract the insects to the base portion of the net. By way of an example, the one or
more chemicals may include pheromones, carbon dioxide (CO2), or a combination
thereof. The coupling unit 107 may include one or more drone couplers. Additionally,
a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) may be affixed on the net to attract insects
towards the net in the dark. Further, the coupling unit 107 is configured to magnetize
one or more drone couplers for electromagnetically coupling the drone 100 with one
or more of the plurality of drones as per the drone formation. Further, the drone 100
may include an insulating handle 111 configured to protect a user from the high voltage
when the drone is not in operation and when the high voltage generator 105 is
functioning.
[019] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, a variety of processes
may be employed for managing an insect swarm using drones. For example, the
exemplary drone 100 may manage the insect swarm by the processes discussed
herein. In particular, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, control
logic and/or automated routines for performing the techniques and steps described
herein may be implemented by the drone 100 either by hardware, software, or
combinations of hardware and software. For example, suitable code may be accessed
and executed by the one or more processors on the drone 100 to perform some or all
of the techniques described herein. Similarly, application specific integrated circuits
(ASICs) configured to perform some or all of the processes described herein may be
included in the one or more processors on the drone 100.
[020] Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary drone formation 200 for
managing an insect swarm 201 is illustrated, in accordance with some embodiments
of the present disclosure. The drone formation 200 may include a plurality of drones
(for example, a drone 202, a drone 203, and a drone 204). In an embodiment, each of
the plurality of drones 202, 203, and 204 may be analogous to the drone 100. In an
exemplary scenario, at least one of the plurality of drones 202, 203, and 204 may
detect and track the insect swarm 201 through a camera or one or more sensors.
Further, the drone 202 may communicate with each of the drone 203 and the drone
Docket No.: IIP-HCL-P0029
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204 to dynamically align in a position based on the tracking so as to make the drone
formation 200.
[021] Each of the plurality of drones 202, 203, and 204 includes a coupling
unit (for example, the coupling unit 107). The coupling unit may include one or more
drone couplers. By way of an example, the coupling unit of the drone 202 may include
a drone coupler 205 and the coupling unit of the drone 203 may include a drone
coupler 206. The coupling units of the drone 202 and the drone 203 may magnetize
the drone coupler 205 and the drone coupler 206 for electromagnetically coupling the
drone 202 and the drone 203 with each other as per the drone formation 200. Similarly,
the drone 203 and the drone 204 may be electromagnetically coupled with each other
through a drone coupler 207 of the drone 203 and a drone coupler 208 of the drone
204.
[022] Further, each of the plurality of drones 202, 203, and 204 may include
a net casting unit (for example, the net casting unit 106). The net casting units of the
drone 202, the drone 203, and the drone 204 may cast a net 209, a net 210, and a net
211, respectively, to trap insects in the insect swarm 201. Each of the net 209, the net
210, and the net 211 includes a set of electrically conductive threads and a set of
insulators 212, 213, and 214 disposed between each of the two electrically conductive
threads. When the plurality of drones 202, 203, and 204 are electromagnetically
coupled with each other in the drone formation 200, the net 209, the net 210, and the
net 211 are closely placed with each other to form a net wall 215. Each of the net 209,
the net 210, and the net 211, upon casting, is supplied with a high voltage through a
high voltage generator to decapacitate the insects. In an embodiment, the high voltage
may be in a range of about 20000 volts to about 100000 volts.
[023] In some embodiments, a chemical dispensing unit may be disposed
towards a base portion of the net. The chemical dispensing unit may release one or
more chemicals that attract the insects to the base portion of the net. By way of an
example, the one or more chemicals may include pheromones, carbon dioxide (CO2),
or a combination thereof. The net wall may be a substantially flat wall towards the
insects in the insect swarm or a substantially surround wall around an area which
includes the insect swarm 201 (for example, a tree, a field, or the like). An insect from
the insect swarm 201, upon coming in contact with the net wall 215, is decapacitated
due to the high voltage.
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[024] Referring now to FIG. 3, another exemplary drone formation 300 for
managing an insect swarm 301 is illustrated, in accordance with some embodiments
of the present disclosure. The drone formation 300 may include a plurality of drones
(for example, a drone 302, a drone 303, and a drone 304), each communicatively
coupled to a central controlling unit 305 (for example, server, desktop, laptop,
notebook, netbook, tablet, smartphone, mobile phone, or any other computing device)
via a cloud 306, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In
an embodiment, each of the plurality of drones 302, 303, and 304 may be analogous
to the drone 100. It should be noted that the central controlling unit 305 is configured
to control and communicate with at least one of the plurality of drones 302, 303, and
304. Additionally, the central controlling unit 305 is manually operated or automatically
operated using artificial intelligence (AI) model. In an exemplary scenario, at least one
of the plurality of drones 302, 303, and 304 may detect and track the insect swarm
301 through a camera or one or more sensors. Further, the central controlling unit 305
may communicate with each of the drone 302, the drone 303, and the drone 304 to
dynamically align in a position based on the tracking so as to make the drone formation
300.
[025] Each of the plurality of drones 302, 303, and 304 includes a coupling
unit (for example, the coupling unit 107). The coupling unit may include one or more
drone couplers. By way of an example, the coupling unit of the drone 302 may include
a drone coupler 307 and the coupling unit of the drone 303 may include a drone
coupler 308. The coupling units of the drone 302 and the drone 303 may magnetize
the drone coupler 307 and the drone coupler 308 for electromagnetically coupling the
drone 302 and the drone 303 with each other as per the drone formation 300. Similarly,
the drone 303 and the drone 304 may be electromagnetically coupled with each other
through a drone coupler 309 of the drone 303 and a drone coupler 310 of the drone
304.
[026] Further, each of the plurality of drones 302, 303, and 304 may include
a net casting unit (for example, the net casting unit 106). The net casting units of the
drone 302, the drone 303, and the drone 304 may cast a net 311, a net 312, and a net
313, respectively, to trap insects in the insect swarm 301. Each of the net 311, the net
312, and the net 313 includes a set of electrically conductive threads and a set of
insulators 314, 315, and 316 disposed between each of the two electrically conductive
threads. When the plurality of drones 302, 303, and 304 are electromagnetically
Docket No.: IIP-HCL-P0029
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coupled with each other in the drone formation 300, the net 311, the net 312, and the
net 313 are closely placed with each other to form a net wall 317. Each of the net 311,
the net 312, and the net 313, upon casting, is supplied with a high voltage through a
high voltage generator to decapacitate the insects. In an embodiment, the high voltage
may be in a range of about 20000 volts to about 100000 volts.
[027] In some embodiments, a chemical dispensing unit may be disposed
towards a base portion of the net. The chemical dispensing unit may release one or
more chemicals that attract the insects to the base portion of the net. By way of an
example, the one or more chemicals may include pheromones, carbon dioxide (CO2),
or a combination thereof. The net wall may be a substantially flat wall towards the
insects in the insect swarm or a substantially surround wall around an area which
includes the insect swarm 201 (for example, a tree, a field, or the like). An insect from
the insect swarm 301, upon coming in contact with the net wall 317, is decapacitated
due to the high voltage.
[028] It may be noted that the drone formation may be deployed for managing
insect swarms in places such as agricultural fields, urban sewers, housing complexes,
indoors of residences and commercial spaces, and the like. It may also be noted that
using a drone formation for managing an insect swarm may be a specific use-case
scenario. The electromagnetically coupled drone formation, in general, may be used
for a variety of other purposes and may not be specifically limited to managing an
insect swarm. In an embodiment, one or more drones in the electromagnetically
coupled drone formation may include a plurality of LEDs and dynamically provide
illumination in dark. In another embodiment, one or more drones in the
electromagnetically coupled drone formation may include water sprinklers for
applications in agricultural irrigation. As will be appreciated, the above embodiments
are intended to be exemplary and not limiting to the scope of the invention.
[029] Referring now to FIG. 4, an exemplary process 400 for managing an
insect swarm is depicted via a flowchart, in accordance with some embodiments of the
present disclosure. In an embodiment, the process 400 may be implemented by the
drone 100. The process 400 includes controlling the at least one of the plurality of
drones (for example, the plurality of drones 302, 303, and 304) from a central
controlling unit (such as the central controlling unit 305), at step 401. The central
controlling unit is manually operated or automatically operated using AI model. In an
embodiment, each of the plurality of drones is autonomous and functions independent
Docket No.: IIP-HCL-P0029
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of the central controlling unit (for example, the drone formation 200). Further, the
process 400 may include detecting an insect swarm (such as, the insect swarm 201),
at step 402. Further, the process 400 may include tracking a movement of the insect
swarm, at step 403. It may be noted that detecting and tracking the insect swarm is
based on at least one of: movement of the insects in the insect swarm, images of the
insect swarm, and sound of the insects in the insect swarm. By way of an example,
the environment data capturing unit of at least one of the plurality of drones 202, 203,
and 204 may detect and track the insect swarm 201 through the sound generator and
detector 109 and the camera 110 of the environment data capturing unit 101.
[030] Further, the process 400 may include communicating with remaining of
the plurality of drones, to dynamically align in a position based on the tracking so as
to make a drone formation, at step 404. In an embodiment, the central controlling unit
may communicate with the plurality of drones to dynamically make the drone
formation. The drone formation may include two or more of the plurality of drones
electromagnetically coupled to cast one of a substantially flat net wall (for example,
the net wall 215) towards the insects in the insect swarm, or a substantially surround
net wall (for example, the net wall 215) around the insects in the insect swarm. In an
embodiment, the drone formation is dynamically determined to cast a wider net and to
arrest further movement of the insects in the insect swarm.
[031] Further, the process 400 may include magnetizing, by at least some of
the plurality of drones in the drone formation, one or more drone couplers for
electromagnetically coupling the at least some of the plurality of drones with each other
as per the drone formation, at step 405. In continuation of the example above, the
drone 202 may communicate with the drone 203 and the drone 204 for dynamically
aligning in a position to make the drone formation 200. Further, the drone coupler 205
of the drone 202 and the drone coupler 206 of the drone 203 may be magnetized to
electromagnetically couple the drone 202 with the drone 203. Similarly, the drone 203
may be electromagnetically coupled with the drone 204 to complete the drone
formation 200.
[032] Further, the process 400 may include generating sound to dislodge the
insects from their resting places, at step 406. Further, the process 400 may include
releasing, by each of the plurality of drones, one or more chemicals that attract the
insects to a base portion of the net, at step 407. In an embodiment, at least one of the
plurality of drones may move close to the resting places of the insects. In such an
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embodiment, the plurality of fans of the at least one of the plurality of drones may
produce downward winds to dislodge the insects from their resting places. In another
embodiment, at least one of the plurality of drones may include a plurality of LEDs to
attract the insects to the base portion of the net. In continuation of the example above,
the drone 202 may generate sound waves to dislodge the insects of the insect swarm
201 from their resting places. Additionally, the chemical dispensing unit of the drone
202 may release chemicals (for example, pheromones, carbon dioxide (CO2), or a
combination thereof) to attract the insects towards the net 209. Further, the process
400 may include casting, by each of the plurality of drones, a net (for example, the net
209 of the drone 202) to trap insects in the insect swarm, at step 408. The net includes
a set of electrically conductive threads and a set of insulators disposed between each
of the two electrically conductive threads. Alternatively, a vacuum pump may be
attached above the net casting unit to produce a region of air pressure difference. An
insect near the region of air pressure difference may be pulled towards the net.
[033] Further, the process 400 may include supplying, by each of the plurality
of drones, a high voltage to the net to decapacitate the insects, at step 409. Each of
the set of electrically insulated threads of the net is supplied with the high voltage in a
range of about 20000 volts to about 100000 volts. In an embodiment, the method may
further include releasing one or more chemicals that attract the insects to the base
portion of the net. In continuation of the example above, the high voltage generator of
each of the drone 202, the drone 203, and the drone 204 may produce high voltage
electricity through the set of electrically conductive threads of the net 209, the net 210,
and the net 211, respectively. An insect from the insect swarm 201, upon coming in
contact with the net wall 215, is decapacitated due to the high voltage. In an
embodiment, the process 400 may include steps 402-409 when each of the plurality
of drones is autonomous and functions independent of the central controlling unit.
[034] As will be also appreciated, the above described techniques may take
the form of computer or controller implemented processes and apparatuses for
practicing those processes. The disclosure can also be embodied in the form of
computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as
floppy diskettes, solid state drives, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computerreadable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into
and executed by a computer or controller, the computer becomes an apparatus for
practicing the invention. The disclosure may also be embodied in the form of computer
Docket No.: IIP-HCL-P0029
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program code or signal, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into
and/or executed by a computer or controller, or transmitted over some transmission
medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via
electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into
and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the
invention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer
program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.
The disclosed methods and systems may be implemented on a conventional or a
general-purpose computer system, such as a personal computer (PC) or server
computer.
[035] Thus, the disclosed system and method try to overcome the technical
problem of managing an insect swarm using drones. The system and method provide
a drone with a net made of a set of electrically conductive threads. Further, the drone
includes a high voltage generator to supply high voltage electricity to the set of
electrically conductive threads of the net. Further, the drone may include one or more
drone couplers. The one or more drone couplers may be magnetized for
electromagnetic coupling of the drone with another such drone. Further, a plurality of
such drones may be electromagnetically coupled with each other dynamically to make
a drone formation. The drone formation provides a net wall of closely spaced nets of
the plurality of drones. The plurality of drones may attract insects from their resting
places by generating sound waves and releasing chemicals. Further, an insect, upon
coming in contact with the net wall, may be decapacitated due to the high voltage
electricity.
[036] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the techniques
described in the various embodiments discussed above are not routine, or
conventional, or well understood in the art. The techniques discussed above provide
for managing an insect swarm using drones. The techniques first detect, by at least
one of a plurality of drones, an insect swarm. The techniques may then track, by the
at least one of a plurality of drones, a movement of the insect swarm. The techniques
may then communicate, by the at least one of the plurality of drones with remaining of
the plurality of drones, to dynamically align in a position based on the tracking so as
to make a drone formation. The techniques may then magnetize, by at least some of
the plurality of drones, one or more drone couplers for electromagnetically coupling
the at least some of the plurality of drones with each other as per the drone formation.
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The techniques may then cast, by each of the plurality of drones, a net to trap insects
in the insect swarm. The techniques may then supply, by each of the plurality of
drones, a high voltage to the net to decapacitate the insects.
[037] In light of the above mentioned advantages and the technical
advancements provided by the disclosed method and system, the claimed steps as
discussed above are not routine, conventional, or well understood in the art, as the
claimed steps enable the following solutions to the existing problems in conventional
technologies. Further, the claimed steps clearly bring an improvement in the
functioning of the device itself as the claimed steps provide a technical solution to a
technical problem.
[038] The specification has described system and method for managing an
insect swarm using drones. The illustrated steps are set out to explain the exemplary
embodiments shown, and it should be anticipated that ongoing technological
development will change the manner in which particular functions are performed.
These examples are presented herein for purposes of illustration, and not limitation.
Further, the boundaries of the functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined
herein for the convenience of the description. Alternative boundaries can be defined
so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately
performed. Alternatives (including equivalents, extensions, variations, deviations, etc.,
of those described herein) will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s)
based on the teachings contained herein. Such alternatives fall within the scope and
spirit of the disclosed embodiments.
[039] Furthermore, one or more computer-readable storage media may be
utilized in implementing embodiments consistent with the present disclosure. A
computer-readable storage medium refers to any type of physical memory on which
information or data readable by a processor may be stored. Thus, a computerreadable storage medium may store instructions for execution by one or more
processors, including instructions for causing the processor(s) to perform steps or
stages consistent with the embodiments described herein. The term “computerreadable medium” should be understood to include tangible items and exclude carrier
waves and transient signals, i.e., be non-transitory. Examples include random access
memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), volatile memory, nonvolatile memory, hard
drives, CD ROMs, DVDs, flash drives, disks, and any other known physical storage
media.
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[040] It is intended that the disclosure and examples be considered as
exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of disclosed embodiments being indicated
by the following claims.

CLAIMS
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A system for managing an insect swarm (201), the system (200) comprising:
a plurality of drones (202, 203, and 204) configured to collaborate with each
other to manage an insect swarm (201), wherein each of the plurality of drones (202,
203, and 204) comprises:
a net casting unit (106) configured to cast a net to trap insects in the
insect swarm (201), wherein the net, upon casting, is supplied with a high
voltage to decapacitate the insects; and
a coupling unit (107) configured to magnetize one or more drone
couplers for electromagnetically coupling two or more of the plurality of drones
(202, 203, and 204) as per a dynamically determined drone formation (200) to
cast a wider net and to arrest further movement of the insects in the insect
swarm (201).
2. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of drones (202, 203,
and 204) further comprises at least one of:
an environment data capturing unit (101) configured to capture environment
data, wherein the environment data is processed to detect and track the insect swarm
and to control the plurality of drones (202, 203, and 204) based the detection and
tracking, and wherein the environment data capturing unit comprises at least one of:
a motion detection unit configured to detect and track movement of the
insects in the insect swarm (201),
an image capturing unit configured to capture images of the insect
swarm (201),
a sound detection unit configured to detect and track sound of the insects
in the insect swarm (201), or
a position capturing unit configured to capture a geographic location of
the drone, and
a sound generating unit configured to generate sound to dislodge the insects
from their resting places.
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3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of drones (202, 203, and
204) further comprises at least one of:
a flight control unit (102) configured to sense obstacles in a flight path of the
drone and to direct the drone to avoid obstacles while in flight;
a power source (104) configured to provide power to the drone;
a high voltage generator (105) configured to generate the high voltage;
a chemical dispensing unit (108) disposed towards a base portion of the net
and configured to release one or more chemicals that attract the insects to the base
portion of the net, wherein the one or more chemicals comprise pheromones, or a
combination thereof, and
a plurality of fans (103a and 103b), each with an insect shield configured to
prevent the insects from interfering with the fan.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the dynamically determined drone formation
(200) comprises two or more of the plurality of drones (202, 203, and 204)
electromagnetically coupled to cast one of:
a substantially flat net wall (215) towards the insects in the insect swarm (201),
or
a substantially surround net wall (215) around the insects in the insect swarm
(201).
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the net comprises a set of electrically conductive
threads and a set of insulators (112) disposed between each of the two electrically
conductive threads, and wherein each of the set of electrically insulated threads is
supplied with the high voltage in a range of about 20000 volts to about 100000 volts.
6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a central controlling unit (305)
configured to control and communicate with at least one of the plurality of drones,
wherein the central controlling unit (305) is manually operated or automatically
operated using artificial intelligence (AI) model.
7. A drone (100), comprising:
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an environment data capturing unit (101) configured to capture environment
data, wherein the environment data is processed to detect and track the insect swarm
(201) and to sense obstacles in a flight path of the drone (100);
a flight control unit (102) configured to navigate the drone and to avoid the
obstacles based on the detection and tracking;
a plurality of fans (103a and 103b), each with an insect shield configured to
prevent the insects from interfering with the fan;
a power source (104) configured to provide power to the drone (100); and
a high voltage generator (105) configured to generate a high voltage;
a net casting unit (106) configured to cast a net to trap insects in the insect
swarm (201), wherein the net, upon casting, is supplied with the high voltage to
decapacitate the insects;
a coupling unit (107) configured to magnetize one or more drone coupler for
electromagnetic coupling the drone (100) with one or more of other drones as per a
dynamically determined drone formation (200) to cast a wider net and to arrest further
movement of the insects in the insect swarm (201); and
a chemical dispensing unit (108) disposed towards a base portion of the net
and configured to release one or more chemicals that attract the insects to the base
portion of the net.
8. A method (400) for managing an insect swarm (201), the method (400)
comprising:
detecting (402), by at least one of a plurality of drones (202, 203, and 204), an
insect swarm (201);
tracking (403), by the at least one of a plurality of drones (202, 203, and 204),
a movement of the insect swarm (201);
communicating (404), by the at least one of the plurality of drones (202, 203,
and 204) with remaining of the plurality of drones (202, 203, and 204), to dynamically
align in a position based on the tracking so as to make a drone formation (200);
magnetizing (405), by at least some of the plurality of drones (202, 203, and
204), one or more drone couplers for electromagnetically coupling the at least some
of the plurality of drones (202, 203, and 204) with each other as per the drone
formation (200);
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casting (408), by each of the plurality of drones (202, 203, and 204), a net to
trap insects in the insect swarm; and
supplying (409), by each of the plurality of drones (202, 203, and 204), a high
voltage to the net to decapacitate the insects.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting and tracking the insect swarm (201)
is based on at least one of: movement of the insects in the insect swarm (201), images
of the insect swarm (201), and sound of the insects in the insect swarm (201).
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising, at least one of:
generating (406), by the at least one of a plurality of drones (202, 203, and 204),
sound to dislodge the insects from their resting places; and
releasing (407), by each of the plurality of drones (202, 203, and 204), one or
more chemicals that attract the insects to a base portion of the net.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the drone formation (200) comprises two or
more of the plurality of drones (202, 203, and 204) electromagnetically coupled to cast
one of:
a substantially flat net wall (215) towards the insects in the insect swarm (201),
or
a substantially surround net wall (215) around the insects in the insect swarm
(201).
12. The method of claim 8, further comprising controlling (401) the at least one of
the plurality of drones from a central controlling unit (305), wherein the central
controlling unit (305) is manually operated or automatically operated using artificial
intelligence (AI) model.