Transcript Document 7677603
“Sniffer” Robots: Artificial Noses
Brandon Yarborough
Components of an Artificial Nose Chemical sensing system (e.g., sensory array or spectrometer)
Each chemical vapor presented to the sensor array produces a pattern characteristic (signature) of the vapor.
A database of signatures is built up by presenting many different chemicals to the sensor array.
The database of labeled signatures is used to train the pattern recognition system.
Components of an Artificial Nose (cont.) Pattern recognition system (e.g., artificial neural network)
Used to analyze complex data and to recognize patterns
Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are collections of mathematical models that attempt to emulate some of the properties of biological nervous systems.
General Structure of an Artificial Nose
Possible Applications for “Sniffer” Robots Detecting drugs and other materials in airports Locating victims of avalanches and earthquakes Mine/bomb detection Detection of chemical leaks Tracking escaped prisoners
RAT: The Reactive Autonomous Testbed Created by Andrew Russell at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia The “smellbot”, as it is known, can successfully detect and follow odors through a maze.
Can detect odors with a concentration of as little as one part per million (though this is not as efficient as a dog, or even a human)
Pictures of RAT
Videos of RAT in action
http://www.ecse.monash.edu.au/staff/rar/Trai l%20%231.mov
http://www.ecse.monash.edu.au/staff/rar/Plu me%20%231.mov
Sources
http://www.newscientisttech.com/article/dn 11023-snifferbot-algorithm-helps-robots seek-scents.html
http://www.ecse.monash.edu.au/staff/rar/ http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09 /10/1062902115129.html?from=storyrhs