IP Library Granted Patent US 12,329,143
Granted Patent B2
US 12,329,143 · App. 18/345,723 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Systems and methods for dynamic release planning for insect release

Inventors: Tiantian Zha (South San Francisco, CA); Peter Massaro (San Carlos, CA); Erika Lee (San Mateo, CA)
A01M1/026A01K67/30G01C21/3453G06Q10/047G06Q50/00G01C21/3407
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,329,143
App. No.
18/345,723
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for dynamic release planning for insect release. One example method includes receiving information indicating a population of wild insects within a geographic region; determining a number of wild insects per unit area within the geographic region; placing, based on the number of wild insects per unit area, one or more insect release points based on the number of wild insects per unit area, each insect release point indicating a release of a predefined quantity of insects; and generating an insect release route through the geographic region, the insect release route passing through each insect release point.

Claims (91)

1. A method comprising:

receiving information indicating a population of wild insects within a geographic region;

determining a number of wild insects per unit area within the geographic region;

determining a plurality of road segments within the geographic region based on the number of wild insects per unit area;

placing, based on the number of wild insects per unit area, one or more insect release points based on the plurality of road segments and the number of wild insects per unit area, each insect release point indicating a release of a predefined quantity of insects; and

generating an insect release route through the geographic region, the insect release route passing through each insect release point.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a number of houses in the geographic region;

determining a number of insect release points based on a predetermined ratio of wild insects per house; and

wherein:

the determining the number of wild insects per unit area comprises determining a number of wild insects per house; and

the placing the one or more insect release points comprises placing the number of insect release points.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining centroids of a plurality of houses within the geographic region;

for each house of the plurality of houses, determining a road segment within the geographic region corresponding to the respective house;

determining a weight for each road segment based on the respective corresponding houses; and

wherein the placing the one or more insect release points comprises determining an even distribution of the one or more insect release points based on the weights and the road segments.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a number of wild female insects per unit area; and

determining a quantity of sterile male insects based on the number of wild female insects and a predetermined ratio.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving information indicating a number of trapped sterile male insects captured by one or more insect traps within the geographic region;

determining a longevity of sterile male insects previously released into the geographic region based on the number of trapped sterile male insects; and

determining a quantity of sterile insects to release at each release point based on the longevity of sterile male insects.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the insect release route indicates a travel speed of a release vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing the insect release route to a release vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting arrival at a first insect release point of the one or more insect release points; and

activating an insect release mechanism.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the insect release mechanism comprises a tube having a population of insects and a blower; and

wherein activating the release mechanism comprises:

activating the blower,

presenting a portion of the tube to the blower, and

moving the tube past the blower.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising varying the movement of the tube past the blower based on a determined insect release rate.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after generating the insect release route:

receiving additional information indicating an updated population of wild insects;

determining an updated number of wild insects per unit of area;

adjusting a placement of at least one insect release point; and

updating the insect release route based on the adjusting.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein each insect release point has the same predefined quantity of insects.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the insect release route is based on a type of release vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the type of release vehicle is one of (i) a truck or sport utility vehicle, (ii) a motorcycle, (iii) a car, (iv) a drone, (v) a manned aircraft, (vi) a bicycle, or (vii) a person.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the insect release route is based on one or more of (i) weather data, (ii) population density, (iii) building types within the geographic region, (iv) expected release height of the insect population, or (v) expected time of day of release.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

receive information indicating a population of wild insects within a geographic region;

determine a plurality of road segments within the geographic region based on the number of wild insects per unit area;

place, based on the number of wild insects per unit area, one or more insect release points based on the plurality of road segments and the number of wild insects per unit area, each insect release point indicating a release of a predefined quantity of insects; and

generate an insect release route through the geographic region, the insect release route passing through each insect release point.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

determine a number of houses in the geographic region;

determine a number of insect release points based on a predetermined ratio of wild insects per house;

determine a number of wild insects per house; and

place the number of insect release points.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

determine centroids of a plurality of houses within the geographic region;

for each house of the plurality of houses, determine a road segment within the geographic region corresponding to the respective house;

determine a weight for each road segment based on the respective corresponding houses; and

determine an even distribution of the one or more insect release points based on the weights and the road segments.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

determine a number of wild female insects per unit area; and

determine a quantity of sterile male insects based on the number of wild female insects and a predetermined ratio.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

receive information indicating a number of trapped sterile male insects captured by one or more insect traps within the geographic region;

determine a longevity of sterile male insects previously released into the geographic region based on the number of trapped sterile male insects; and

determine a quantity of sterile insects to release at each release point based on the longevity of sterile male insects.

21. A system comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

a processor configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

receive information indicating a population of wild insects within a geographic region;

determine a number of wild insects per unit area within the geographic region;

determine a plurality of road segments within the geographic region based on the number of wild insects per unit area;

place, based on the number of wild insects per unit area, one or more insect release points based on the plurality of road segments and the number of wild insects per unit area, each insect release point indicating a release of a predefined quantity of insects; and

generate an insect release route through the geographic region, the insect release route passing through each insect release point.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

determine a number of houses in the geographic region;

determine a number of insect release points based on a predetermined ratio of wild insects per house;

determine a number of wild insects per house; and

place the number of insect release points.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

determine centroids of a plurality of houses within the geographic region;

for each house of the plurality of houses, determine a road segment within the geographic region corresponding to the respective house;

determine a weight for each road segment based on the respective corresponding houses; and

determine an even distribution of the one or more insect release points based on the weights and the road segments.

24. The system of claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

determine a number of wild female insects per unit area; and

determine a quantity of sterile male insects based on the number of wild female insects and a predetermined ratio.

25. The system of claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

receive information indicating a number of trapped sterile male insects captured by one or more insect traps within the geographic region;

determine a longevity of sterile male insects previously released into the geographic region based on the number of trapped sterile male insects; and

determine a quantity of sterile insects to release at each release point based on the longevity of sterile male insects.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2026
From: VERILY LIFE SCIENCES LLC
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 074612/0400 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 19, 2024
From: VERILY LIFE SCIENCES LLC
To: VERILY LIFE SCIENCES LLC
Reel/Frame 069390/0656 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED BY DELETING PATENT APPLICATION NO. 18388907 FROM SECURITY INTEREST PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 66797 FRAME 766. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Nov 13, 2024
From: ACRONIS INTERNATIONAL GMBH
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST
Reel/Frame 069594/0136 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2024
From: ACRONIS INTERNATIONAL GMBH
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST
Reel/Frame 066797/0766 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2024
From: ZHA, TIANTIAN; MASSARO, PETER; LEE, ERIKA
To: VERILY LIFE SCIENCES LLC
Reel/Frame 066209/0479 →