The red imported fire ants (rifa) infest over 140 million hectares in the USA and cost americans an estimated 7 billion dollars annually for control and to repair damage to a number of economic…

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded $175,000 under the Small Business Innovation Research Program to Gearjump Technologies LLC from July 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023. The funding supports development of the Remote Autonomous Detection System, a novel surveillance platform to cost-effectively detect the invasive Red Imported Fire Ant species. The platform integrates microfluidics, electronics, and digital algorithms to autonomously attract, capture, and positively identify fire ants with a high degree of certainty. Phase I objectives are to demonstrate proof-of-concept through entomological experiments at USDA facilities. Phase II will develop a fully functional prototype for large-scale field trials, consolidate intellectual property, and establish a commercialization plan. The system aims to provide effective preventative monitoring for U.S. agricultural sectors impacted by fire ant infestation estimated at $7 billion annually.

The red imported fire ants (rifa) infest over 140 million hectares in the USA and cost americans an estimated 7 billion dollars annually for control and to repair damage to a number of economic sectors, including agriculture, nurseries, SOD producers. IT is estimated that at least 30% of the population in rifa infested areas is stung per year. Overall rifa infestation has resulted in higher food production costs, increased use of pesticides (that also harm other beneficial insects), increased medical and veterinary costs, significant damage to equipment and ecological impact. The remote autonomous detection system (rads) represents a novel surveillance platform designed to detect rifa cost effectively. Rads relies on integration of electronics and data analytics to detect, identify such an invasive species.rads relies on the integration of microfluidics, electronics and special digital processing algorithms to accurately detect rifa. The system will operate autonomously for 4-8 weeks and will be characterized by its small form factor (15 CM x 5 CM x 10 CM) and ease of operation. The main objectives for phase i are: to demonstrate a proof-of-concept that will attract, capture and detect rifa, as well as positively identify IT with a high degree of certainty using custom design digital algorithms. Entomological experiments will be performed at the USDA ARS facilities to demonstrate the concept. The main objectives for phase II is to demonstrate a fully functional product-grade prototype in large entomological trials, consolidate intellectual property (IP), and develop a business plan for mass production and commercialization.commercial applications of the rads platform include a number of sectors, including surveillance in ports, ships and agriculture fields. The target cost of this device is below $100, which will allow massive deployment. Rads represents the next generation surveillance tools to protect the US territory against rifa and other invasive species, providing an effective preventive tool for the US agricultural industry. Overall, the deployment of rads will allow significant improvement in the environment, as well as savings in multiple economic sectors and overall increase production US agricultural output.