Active probe, system and method for pest detection

摘要

A pest detector (1) for actively detecting pest activity within the environs of a structure. The pest detector includes a pest detection unit (2) that detects pest activity through the analysis of sounds of pest activity within a pest bait. The pest bait is typically timber or cellulose material (3). Upon detection of pest activity, a signal is sent to wireless transmitting device which transmits a radio frequency signal which includes data identifying the pest detector. Advantageously, the radio frequency is in the cellular radio frequency spectrum and is transmitted via the cellular radio network to a remote base station. The signal can be in the form of a short message service message. In this way, the pest detector can be remotely monitored and any pest activity dealt with appropriately. The pest detector can be used within a pest detection system and the pest detection unit can be retrofitted to known pest monitoring systems.

主权项

1. A pest detector comprising:
a sensor arranged to receive sounds from a pest attractor; a processor configured to enter a detection mode and a sleep mode, the processor when in the sleep mode assuming a low power consumption state and when in the detection mode being coupled to the sensor and configured to:
process the sounds received by the sensor so as to detect the activity of one or more pests at the pest attractor based on the received sounds; andto generate a first signal in response to a positive detection of pest activity; and a wireless transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to generate a data signal in response to the first signal generated by the processor, the data signal including data identifying the pest detector; and a hygrometer and thermometer for measuring humidity and temperature respectively, the hygrometer and thermometer being coupled to the processor for bypassing the detection mode by entering the sleep mode if the measurements from the thermometer and hygrometer do not indicate that the ambient temperature and humidity are suitable for termite activity.