Tarn Yao Ju (Leader), Ng Xuan, Seow Ryan, See Toh Ee Kin

FIND US ON:ibRocks.wiki.hci.edu.sg Group

03-23Inconvenience

Beneficials

Existed since 92 Million years agoGreat survival instinctAntenna

One of the Most important Biological structures of the ant

Navigation GuidanceMagnets in antenna serve as internal GPS

“Smells scenery” with stereo olfaction(sense of smell)

The Amazing Ants

ANTS THE NUISANCE

“Ants keep crawling onto my Plates, Trays, Bowls. How do I get rid of them?I wish someone would stop them.”

------Anonymous

Why our InventionANT-PATHISE

HousewivesCampersFrequent beach-goersPicnickersSwimmers

Target Audience

People need help dealing with these pests

Imagine… If you were at the beach having a barbecue When you come back from a swim, you

find ants crawling all over your food Some even crawl away with your food

Why our InventionDEFINE

Why not create a tray that ants can’t crawl on!

IDEATE

You cannot fully prevent ants’ visitation

BUT…You can prevent ants from

encroaching on your foodstuff in the final ≈(30-50)cm

Prevention is Possible

Many ants cannot walk upside downA hard time moving up

A smooth surface Upside down

Navigation System would be confused Disorientate when they move up on

Different verticals repeatedlyTheir navigational weakness

Exploited to our advantage

Movement Orientation of Ants

ImagineHolding a compass verticallyThe compass needle would be

confused Imagine

Confusing the ants’ antennaAnts’ sense of direction would be

lost momentarily

Battling the Ants Antenna

Those in the MARKET:1. Constrained by fixed shapes and sizes2. Made from chemically treated materials to

repel ants3. Not environmentally friendly

OUR PRODUCT Universal Tray Natural Remedy

Exploiting Biological Weaknesses of Ants

How is our Invention different from existing products?

Base legs are not pointing vertically up Ants can still sense

North South East West

How they are Imperfect

Base With Legs

Not environmentally friendly Non-Biodegradable

How they are Imperfect

Chemically made

Repels ants effectivelyEnvironmentally friendly

HOWEVER Loses effect after a while Becomes Useless More is needed Unpleasant Odour

How they are ImperfectOrganic Repellent

A SKETCH OF THE ANTI-ANT TRAY

Leg of Anti-Ant Tray

A SKETCH OF THE ANTI-ANT TRAY

Extension A Main Tray

Extension A

Extension B

Extension BExtension A Extension B

The Amazing World of Ants

http://theophanes.hubpages.com/hub/The-Amazing-World-of-Ants

Magnets in Ant Antennae Work as Internal GPS

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/05/20/ant-magnet-gps.html

Ants are first animal known to navigate by stereo smell

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8539000/8539525.stm

Smelling Scenery in Stereo

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100309102527.htm

General web searches on existing similar products

References

Question and Answer Session