Verily Life Sciences LLC

Peter Massaro

Tiantian Zha

Robert Sobecki

Victor Criswell

Charles Behling

Brian Wasson

Nigel Snoad

Eric Peeters

Peter H Smith

Benjamin David Krasnow

Roman L Devengenzo

Martin Edward Lozano

Daniel Greeley

Gabriella Levine

Martin Sheridan

Jianyi Liu

Matthew Metlitz

Erika Lee

Craig Eldershaw

Dilip Krishnan

Mark Desnoyer

Yaniv Ovadia

Josh Livni

Yi Han

Bradley White

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.

Systems and methods for dynamic release planning for insect release

One example insect release device includes a vessel defining a volume, the vessel has first and second surfaces substantially opposite each other, the first surface defining an opening into the volume; a population of insect larvae or pupae or adult insects within the volume; and a seal positioned to obstruct the opening and adhered to the first surface. Another example insect release device includes a vessel defining a volume; a population of insect larvae or pupae or adult insects disposed within the volume; wherein the vessel is permanently sealed, and wherein release of the insect larvae or pupae or adult insects occurs upon rupture of the vessel. A further example insect release device includes a vessel defining a volume; a population of insects disposed within the volume; and a gimbal mechanism coupled to the vessel, the gimbal configured to maintain a substantially constant orientation of the vessel.

Insect release devices

Systems and methods for transporting live insects in a secure and environmentally controlled manner. The systems include containers and packaging for transporting the live insects at a controlled temperature and pressure.

Devices, systems, and methods for transporting live insects

An insect container for transportation of live insects including a first and second container portion. The first and second container portions are configured to be coupled together to enclose a volume. Each of the first and second container portions include a backing plate defining a set of vent holes. The backing plate is rotatable when the insect container is in an open configuration. Each of the first and second container portions include a wall defining a container perimeter and including a non-rotating coupling feature, in which the backing plate and the wall together define a cavity. The non-rotating coupling features of the first and second container portions enable the container portions to couple together to fully enclose a volume to prevent relative rotation of the first and second container portions.

A device comprises a dispenser assembly comprising a frame having a first surface and a second surface. The frame defines a pathway, an inlet opening in the first surface of the frame and a drain opening in the second surface of the frame. The inlet opening and the drain opening may provide access to the pathway. The device also includes a moveable member having at least one bore oriented perpendicular to the pathway. The moveable member may be is translatable within the pathway between a first position and a second position.

Volumetric pupae dispenser

Insects can be classified into a category (e.g., sex category, species category, size category, etc.) using a variety of different classification approaches including, for example, an industrial vision classifier and/or a machine learning classifier. At least some classification approaches may be used in real-time to make real-time decisions and others can be used to validate earlier-made real-time decisions.

Predictive classification of insects

Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide an automated mass rearing system for insect larvae. The automated mass rearing system can facilitate hatching, feeding, monitoring the growth and emergence of insect larvae and pupae. In some embodiments, the automated mass rearing system can include a production unit, a transportation unit, a storage unit, a dispensing unit, and a monitoring unit. In some embodiments, this automated mass rearing system can facilitate mass mosquito growth from egg hatching all the way through to full adults or certain stages in between such as the larvae rearing process (i.e., from larvae to pupae) with little or no human intervention. By automating the rearing and transportation of insect eggs, larvae, and pupae, deaths or developmental issues can be minimized. Various techniques and apparatuses are used in this automation that causes minimal disturbance to the insects during development, and thereby maximizing survival rate and fitness of the insects.

Automated mass rearing system for insect larvae

An insect separating apparatus may include a sensor positioned to detect one or more insects when present within a test chamber. For example, the sensor may emit signals into the test chamber and receive reflected signals indicative of Doppler shifts caused by movement of the one or more insects. Based on information from the sensor, a computing device may determine a characteristic of the one or more insects in the chamber, such as a wing beat frequency, sex, or other characteristic. The computing device may instruct different responses based on the characteristic determined, such as activating an air mover to divert detected mosquitos out of the test chamber in response to the determined characteristics matching those of female mosquitos, or deactivating or maintaining the air mover in an inactive condition in response to the determined characteristics matching those of male mosquitos, for example, to allow passage through the chamber into a collection receptacle.

Automated flying insect separator

An insect sortation system includes a first puff system in a puff-back region for moving insects toward an inlet of an insect pathway and a second puff system in a puff-forward region for moving insects toward an outlet of the pathway. The first puff system is configured to singulate the insects. The second puff system is configured to sort the insects.

Insect singulation and classification

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.

A continuous sieving apparatus is described. The continuous sieving apparatus includes a sieve surface attached to a wall. A set of openings is formed in the sieve surface so as to define a set of pathways extending through the sieve surface. The set of opening are defined by a length dimension that is greater than a width dimension. An action system is configured to move the sieve surface in one or more directions (e.g., horizontally and vertically). Such movement causes a first pupa having a first cephalothorax width that is less than the width dimension to move through any one of the set of openings, and a second pupa having a second cephalothorax width that is greater than the width dimension to be prevented from moving through the set of openings.

Continuous sieving apparatuses for pupae separation

An example insect rearing system a vessel comprising at least one interior surface defining a volume; a liner comprising a liner material, the liner having a shape corresponding to a shape of the interior surface, the liner configured to be disposed within the volume to establish a cavity within which water, insect larvae, and insect larvae food may be disposed and maintained; and wherein the vessel defines an opening configured to receive the liner and to allow the liner to substantially conform to the shape of the interior surface.

Insect rearing containers

A device comprising a dispenser assembly comprising a frame having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the frame defines a pathway to enable movement of a moveable member within the frame, an inlet opening in the first surface of the frame and a drain opening in the second surface of the frame, the inlet opening and the drain opening providing access to the pathway, wherein the frame further comprises a filter overlaying the drain opening; and a moveable member translatable within the pathway between a first position and a second position, the moveable member defining at least one bore, wherein at least one of the at least one bore is aligned with the inlet opening at the first position; and a reservoir container coupled to the dispenser assembly, the reservoir container defining a dispensing opening, the dispensing opening aligned with the inlet opening of the frame.

Insect storage and dispensing system are described. An example system may include a dispensing container including at least one wall defining an interior volume for retaining a plurality of adult insects. The system may also include a piston that extends through a first opening of the dispensing container so as to expose a top face of the piston to the interior volume. Longitudinal movement of the piston toward a second opening of the dispensing container may dispense a portion of the plurality of insects from the dispensing container when the plurality of insects is retained in the dispensing container.

Insect storage and dispensing systems

A continuous sieving apparatus is described. The continuous sieving apparatus includes an inclined sieve surface attached to a wall. The inclined sieve surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal axis for pupae to continuously flow across down the incline. A set of openings is formed in the sieve surface so as to define a set of pathways extending through the sieve surface. The set of opening are defined by a length dimension that is greater than a width dimension. When the inclined sieve surface is submerged in a liquid, a first pupa having a first cephalothorax width that is less than the width dimension is free to move through any one of the set of openings, and a second pupa having a second cephalothorax width that is greater than the width dimension is prevented from moving through the set of openings.

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San Carlos, CA, United States of America

Peter Massaro