About BuzzCopper
Our mission to protect UK pollinators from the invasive Asian Hornet
Our Mission
Technology for good
BuzzCopper is a technology-for-good project developing an AI-powered detection device for the Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina). Developed in association with Asian Hornet Alert, a not-for-profit organisation, our goal is to provide beekeepers, conservationists, and communities with an affordable, reliable tool for early detection.
Traditional monitoring relies on visual identification by trained volunteers — a time-consuming and error-prone process. BuzzCopper changes this by using machine vision and artificial intelligence to automatically detect Asian Hornets at bait stations, alerting operators in real time.
Device photograph
Device close-up
The Device
How BuzzCopper works
The BuzzCopper device comprises an integrated bait station with a camera above it that uses an ESP32 microcontroller to run an onboard AI model. When an insect visits, the AI classifies it — and if an Asian Hornet is identified, the system sends an alert with photographic evidence.
The device is solar-powered, works both online and offline, and is designed for deployment with zero by-catch of native species. When WiFi is available, detection images are uploaded to the cloud for reference. When offline, data is stored locally and transmitted when connectivity is restored.
As an open-source project, all hardware designs, firmware, and AI models will be freely available in due course. We believe that community-driven development is essential for tackling an environmental challenge of this scale.
Explore further
The Asian Hornet Threat
Learn about the invasive species threatening UK pollinators and why early detection is critical.
How It Works
Understand the technology behind BuzzCopper — from AI detection to real-time alerts.
Open Source
Discover our open-source approach to hardware, software, and AI model development.
Ready to protect your pollinators?