Revolutionizing Urban Pest Management with Sensor Fusion and Precision Fumigation Robotics

Effective pest management in urban areas is critically challenged by the rapid proliferation of mosquito breeding sites. Traditional fumigation methods expose human operators to harmful chemicals, posing significant health risks ranging from respiratory problems to long-term chronic conditions. To address these issues, a novel fumigation robot equipped with sensor fusion technology for optimal pest control in urban landscapes is proposed. The proposed robot utilizes light detection and ranging data, depth camera inputs processed through the You Only Look Once version 8 (YOLOv8) algorithm for precise object recognition, and inertial measurement unit data. These technologies allow the robot to accurately identify and localize mosquito breeding hotspots using YOLOv8, achieving a precision of 0.81 and a mean average precision of 0.74. The integration of these advanced sensor technologies allows for detailed and reliable mapping, enhancing the robot’s navigation through complex urban terrains and ensuring precise targeting of fumigation efforts. In a test case, the robot demonstrated a 62.5% increase in efficiency by significantly reducing chemical usage through targeted hotspot fumigation. By automating the detection and treatment of breeding sites, the proposed method boosts the efficiency and effectiveness of pest management operations and significantly diminishes the health risks associated with chemical exposure for human workers. This approach, featuring real-time object recognition and dynamic adaptation to environmental changes, represents a substantial advancement in urban pest management, offering a safer and more effective solution to a persistent public health issue.