Ultrasonic Pest Repellent

Ultrasonic Pest Repellent – Sustainable Agricultural Innovation

As the Lead Engineer and Project Owner, I developed a solar-powered ultrasonic pest repellent device designed to provide Indian farmers with a sustainable and affordable alternative to chemical pesticides. This project combined sensor engineering, ultrasonic acoustics, and microcontroller programming to develop a fully functional prototype capable of real-world deployment across varied agricultural terrains.

My goal was to tackle a national-scale issue—India loses 15–25% of its total crop yield to pests annually, a loss equivalent to over ₹2 lakh crore. Worse, overreliance on pesticides has led to widespread contamination of groundwater and soil degradation, especially in states like Punjab, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. With 85% of Indian farmers classified as small or marginal, there's a glaring lack of access to safer alternatives. Excessive pesticide use has also led to higher cancer rates in areas like the Malwa Region of Punjab which is known as the Cotton Belt of India as well as the cancer belt of India.

Component Architecture and Circuit Engineering

The core of the device comprises two critical components usually found in ultrasonic cleaning systems: a 40kHz ultrasonic transducer and a 220V, 100W ultrasonic cleaning circuit board. While conventionally used in jewelry cleaners, I repurposed this system to emit high-frequency pulses that disrupt pest sensory responses in an open agricultural environment.

The architecture includes:

ESP8266 microcontroller to control the ultrasonic pulse intervals via a relay switch.
High-frequency circuit board generating stable 40kHz pulses.
Custom relay module for programmed bursts every 2 minutes.
Solar energy integration with charge controller and 12V battery backup.

All components are enclosed in a waterproof casing for field durability.

Programming and Control System

To maximize efficiency and conserve power, I wrote firmware in the Arduino IDE that enables the device to emit ultrasonic pulses for 30 seconds every 2 minutes. This timing ensures maximum disruption for pests while extending the operational lifespan of both the transducer and the power source.

{image: Code snippet running on ESP8266 for timed relay actuation}

The ESP8266 also allows future upgrades including:

Real-time data logging
Remote control using Wi-Fi or LoRa modules
Solar charging status updates and alerts

This makes the device not only efficient but also adaptable to smart farming systems.

Prototyping and Cost Optimization

The first prototype was built using off-the-shelf components with a total cost of approximately ₹2600 per unit. However, I reverse-engineered the cleaning circuit and analyzed each sub-component—MOSFETs, capacitors, inductors, and control ICs—to determine cost-saving avenues. When manufactured in bulk and with in-house PCB assembly, the projected cost per unit drops to ₹1000.

Additional cost reductions are achieved by:

Procuring components separately rather than as a prebuilt board
Simplifying casing and reducing unnecessary enclosure weight

Bulk ordering and local sourcing

Real-World Deployment and Field Testing

The device has already been deployed on over 60 farms and grain storage units Punjab. Initial reports suggest significant reduction in visible pest activity within the 314m² effective radius.

To expand testing, I’m currently analyzing deployment logistics across different regions and crops—especially high-loss areas like Nashik (onion), NTR-Andhra (mango), and Kodagu (coffee). Planned upgrades include solar charging support, environmental data sensors, and AI-powered pest behavior modeling.

Research Publication and Institutional Backing

This work was documented in a technical research paper titled “Designing a Solar-Powered Ultrasonic Pest Repellent Device for Agricultural Fields in India”, where I explored not only the hardware and theory, but also implementation metrics and cost-benefit analysis. The paper was published independently and is currently under review for larger distribution.

{image: Cover of published research paper with schematic diagrams}

Additionally, I’ve discussed potential collaborations with organizations like Nisarg Foundation and Social Alpha for scale-up, licensing, and patent support. The device is now in the early evaluation stage for intellectual property protection.

Future Roadmap

With the prototype validated and early field deployment underway, the next phase includes:

Mass manufacturing to reduce cost and enable scalability.
Advanced field testing across geographies and crops.
Institutional pilot programs with local NGOs and CSR schemes.
Full IoT integration for remote pest monitoring and performance analytics.

This project sits at the intersection of sustainable tech, social impact, and grassroots innovation—offering a non-invasive alternative to chemical-heavy agriculture. Through further funding and field collaboration, it can directly benefit tens of thousands of farmers and promote long-term environmental health.

Ultrasonic Pest Repellent