COCKROACH infestations could soon be a thing of the past.
A scientist in Scotland has come up with an ingenious AI-powered laser tool that can blast the pests away for good.
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Better still, it was invented with cheap off-the-shelf kit.
The clever tech is able to detect the bugs within 1.2 metres of accuracy.
Cockroaches are found all over the world and are famously resilient – for years people believed they could even survive a nuclear bomb.
With the laser set to low power, experts were able to change cockroach behaviour.
Blasting loads of heat from the laser causes them to change position or direction.
This means they can be deterred from dark hiding places.
But crank the heat up to the max and you can kill the critters.
The person behind it, Ildar Rakhmatulin from Heriot-Watt University, said it could be used to stop other annoying bugs away too.
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“This laser system is selective and eco-friendly pest control method. It’s extremely promising,” he said.
“It’s a tuneable system, so it could be used to protect against mosquitos, to keep predatory hornets away from bees or parasites from valuable crops or stores.”
Despite sounding like an affordable option, don’t expect to buy one for your home anytime soon.
The tool is actually too dangerous for use around the house.
“This system is not suitable for household use,” he added.
“The laser used will cause blindness or serious damage to the eyes.
“I’m sorry for people with cockroaches in their house, but this isn’t the solution for them.”
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