In a region of Ethiopia where disease-ridden tsetse flies run rampant, drones are being administered to lower the fly population and ultimately save lives. The autonomous drones can fly for up to two hours at a cruise speed of 20 meters per second and have temperature controlled pods under each wing containing a swarm of sterile male insects. These little insects have been altered to mate ferociously with the native population upon being released, producing no offspring and consequentially lowering the tsetse fly population.
The drone project, led by drone company Embention and the International Atomic Energy Agency, will help to stop the spread of trypanosomiasis, a deadly disease commonly known as sleeping sickness. If successful, the project could be rolled out to other areas dealing with tsetse flies.
