Bennett Aerospace Uses Trained Insects to Detect Bedbugs

RESEARCH TRIANGLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Smart Hound™ technology has the potential to redefine how consumers can monitor for and detect bedbugs—but if you want the ability to regularly scan for bedbugs, you have to tell Bennett Aerospace via their crowdsourcing campaign on IndieGoGo (www.indiegogo.com/SmartHound).

“Our technology, derived from US Department of Defense R&D on explosives detection, can put the ability to detect bedbugs directly in the hands of consumers”

“Our technology, derived from US Department of Defense R&D on explosives detection, can put the ability to detect bedbugs directly in the hands of consumers,” says Julia Bennett, the CEO of Bennett Aerospace. And consumers are going to have to vote via crowdsourcing.

Thus far, the inexpensive, hand-held Smart Hound™ device has been proven in the laboratory to detect chemical signatures of bedbugs, mold and fungus, illegal drugs, plant diseases, explosives, and even termites. The Smart Hound™ device is more cost efficient and easier to use than other alternatives—including a visual inspection by trained humans or dogs, which require expert handlers.

One concept is that the Smart Hound™ units and the associated cartridges could be used by consumers to scan their home, apartment complex, hotel, or office for any variety of pests. But consumers need to speak up now by contributing - and receiving a “Perk” like a tee-shirt or mug - while the IndieGoGo project is active to indicate that this technology is needed and desired.

“We need to see a strong showing from the public on IndieGoGo,” said Douglas Bennett, President of Bennett Aerospace. “If we have 5,000 supporters, that is a clear indication that consumers want this capability.” The downside to not having the technology as a direct-to-consumer offering is that the opportunity to use the technology on a routine basis will be limited to exterminators– and potentially be much more expensive.

“Smart Hound™ uses trained insects, Sensor Bugs, to detect the odors of interest,” states Dr. Brandon Conover at Bennett Aerospace. “This is technology that was originally funded by the USDA and DARPA [US Department of Defense]. Bennett Aerospace holds the rights to the intellectual property, which includes the training of invertebrates.” The future business model is to allow consumers to have a Smart Hound™ hand-held unit in their homes and receive cartridges as needed.

Bennett Aerospace, Inc. is a PhD-level R&D company based in Research Triangle, North Carolina.