Image credit: Jim Wong on IndieGogo
There’s a hot new crowdfunding campaign that’s got everyone talking—a portable laser-powered mosquito killer called the Photonmatrix, starting at just $498! Jim Wong launched this IndieGogo project, dubbed the “World’s First Portable Mosquito Air Defense,” and it’s turning heads.
The Photonmatrix stands out with its LiDAR scanner paired with a laser guided by a galvanometer, taking out up to 30 mosquitoes per second. This little Star Wars-inspired gadget works in the dark, covers a radius up to 6 meters (19.7 feet), and can run for 16 hours on a smartphone power bank. Wong offers two versions: the Basic model with a 3-meter (9.8-foot) range, and the Pro version, which doubles that to 6 meters for a mosquito-free zone. The Pro does come with a $200 price bump, setting the backer price at $698.
Speaking of prices, the $498 (Basic) and $698 (Pro) rates hold throughout the IndieGogo campaign. There are still some Basic-Earlybird spots left, saving you $40 off the base price. After the campaign, expect the Basic to jump to $698 and the Pro to $898. Backers will get the LiDAR/laser unit (Basic or Pro), a locator base, a bracket, a power brick, and a 2-meter DC cable. Optional add-ons include a rotating base, various power banks, and a $10 adaptor to use your own power bank with a 39,200mAh brick offering up to 16 hours of use. Wong also sells battery bundles for this IP68-rated bug blaster, topping out at $98.
This isn’t the first mosquito-zapping idea out there. Mosquitoes have caused plenty of trouble throughout history, so it’s no surprise these projects gain traction. We’ve seen a DIY Raspberry Pi zapper from 2021 and, in 2023, the Bzigo Iris—a $199 detection-only device that marks mosquitoes with a laser dot for easy swatting, complete with a handy app. It’s a solid indoor option if you’re quick with a swatter.
Safety is a big focus, and Wong promises the Photonmatrix is designed with humans, pets, and even distant birds in mind, calling it “safe enough.” It targets medium-to-slow flyers but won’t catch faster houseflies (over 1m/s). As someone who deals with mosquitoes a lot, I’m curious about my TV screen—could the laser harm it if a mosquito lands there? It’s not in the FAQ, but I hope an app feature for no-kill zones, like security camera apps, might address this. There’s even talk of a mosquito-killing leaderboard!
The campaign aimed for $20,000 but has blown past that by 1,300%, raising serious funds. This is Wong’s first crowdfund, though, so caution is key despite the success. It’s still at the prototype stage—“successfully developed a mosquito air defense system with high-spec LiDAR tech”—and commercial production has hurdles ahead. Backing this is more like an investment in a promising idea, not a surefire purchase, so keep that in mind!
What do you think about this laser mosquito killer? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Source: IndieGogo
