Google <\/b>has announced that it is expanding its Debug <\/b>initiative \u2014 the research and development capabilities for controlling the mosquito population<\/b> that plagues Singapore.<\/p>\n
In an official note to the media, Google said Debug uses a combination of customised software, hardware automation, the magic of science and innovation, and artificial intelligence for its mosquito suppression programme.<\/p>\n Google\u2019s Debug facilities in Singapore.<\/p>\n Image: Google (Debug)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n For those not in the know, Google is the technology provider behind Project Wolbachia<\/i>, a mozzie population control campaign by Singapore\u2019s National Environment Agency (NEA) since 2018. Project Wolbachia<\/i> creates male mosquitoes that carry the Wolbachia bacterium, so that when a daddy mozzie falls in love with a mommy mozzie, their resulting eggs are unable to hatch.<\/p>\n We recommend reading up a little bit on <\/u>Project Wolbachia<\/u><\/i>, so that the technology upgrades below make more sense to you<\/p>\n<\/div>\n This has been in place since Debug\u2019s inception, but the programme is now receiving upgrades to its core technologies, including:<\/p>\n Automated larval rearing system, bagging process. Not recommended for consumption.<\/p>\n Image: Google (Debug)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n End-to-end robotics<\/b>: The rearing process from larvae to pupae separation is now further automated across the rearing lifecycle, improving yields, quality, and pupation rate of the mosquitoes with further optimisations.\u00a0<\/p>\n Male and female mosquitoes march down an enclosed container, going for sex sorting.<\/p>\n Image: Google (Debug)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n AI sex sorting<\/b>: Sorting the male pupae from female pupae is a critical aspect of Debug, and it\u2019s now further expanded in its R&D for higher fidelity in sorting non-biting males from biting females through the use of AI-powered computer vision. The AI model is now being upgraded further. It\u2019s not common knowledge, but it\u2019s only female mozzies that feed on blood. Male mozzies feed on plant juices like nectar<\/u>.<\/p>\n Larval rearing robot provides hotel concierge services to the mosquito larvae, up until check-out time.<\/p>\n Image: Google (Debug)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Automated mosquito release<\/b>: Debug is scaling up its mozzie release by using software-enabled, automated release vans at treatment sites, making its utilisation (of both resources and manpower) even more efficient than before. In Singapore, high-rise and high-density residential buildings are key target areas.<\/p>\n These improvements help to make the Debug programme more affordable, effective, and accessible by improving the yield and use of these male mosquitoes. More designer mozzies, more opportunity to use them, and to greater effect.<\/p>\n Google\u2019s Debug research team monitoring larvae pupation and wondering how they ended up joining Google to breed designer mosquitoes.<\/p>\n Image: Google (Debug)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The expanded capabilities of Debug also evolved the initiative\u2019s goal. Instead of suppression, the initiative aims to replace the mosquito population entirely, and not just for the Singapore market. The new designer mosquitoes can pass the Wolbachia bacterium to the next generation, eventually replacing Dengue-carrying mosquitoes with Wolbachia-infected ones.<\/p>\n To aid in this endeavour, a new specialised larval rearing unit is being developed for deployment in other countries, especially in Southeast Asia. While the initiative initially targeted the Aedes aegypti (dengue-carrying) subvariant, Debug can be further customised to target other mosquito species, too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nSo, how exactly do all these help to stop mosquitoes from biting me?<\/h2>\n