The Difficulties Of Artificial Olfaction
While machine vision has made tremendous progress in the last few years, other artificial senses have lagged behind. One of them is the sense of olfaction or smell'.
This is because we have long known how to get a precise electric signal in response to light, something that has been used on a massive scale since the first digital cameras. In contrast, smell is essentially the detection of volatile chemical substances.
This is a lot more difficult for a few reasons:
For all these reasons, most chemical / olfactory digital detection is currently limited to a few chemical compounds. And generally only used in an industrial setting where the dangerous chemicals to be detected are expected to come from accidents or leaks, for example, carbon monoxide, ozone, chlorine, etc.
This could change thanks to the development of biomimetic olfactory chips by researchers on the team of Prof. Fan Zhiyong, Chair Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
The way the sense of smell works in animals & humans is through an array of chemical detectors called olfactory receptors, able to detect with high sensitivity a wide range of volatile chemicals.
The number of genes coding for such olfactory receptors can vary from 300 to 1,200 depending on the species and how important the sense of smell is for it.
So, instead of having one receptor for every possible chemical molecule, every compound will have a unique footprint produced when activating each of these receptors slightly differently. The olfactory bulbs then assemble this complex signal into a nerve signal and interpret it by a part of the brain called the olfactory complex.
HKUST researchers have created a way to replicate this system, bypassing the constraints of building a miniaturized receptor for each possible chemical compound.
They assembled nanotube sensor arrays on a nanoporous substrate, reaching up to 10,000 individually addressable gas sensors per chip.
This data is then processed by a neural network algorithm to be translated into a perception of a specific chemical digital smell.
This design gives the olfactory chips the potential to simultaneously detect both the presence and concentration of a dozen or more chemicals at once.
As a demonstration, the team created a biomimetic olfactory chip that demonstrated exceptional sensitivity to various gases, and with excellent distinguishability for mixed gases and 24 distinct odors.
They then integrated both the olfactory chip and vision sensors on a robot dog, creating a combined olfactory and visual system that can accurately identify objects in blind boxes, pretty much like a real dog.
The most immediate application of olfactory chips is where most chemical detectors are currently used: safety applications. This includes factories, water treatment stations, petrochemical industries, pipe leak detection, and environmental monitoring (air pollution, etc.).
These new types of detectors could detect more chemicals at once than previous technologies, allowing for a larger data stream and better assessment of safety.
As demonstrated by the robodog prototype, such a detection system could be used to detect otherwise invisible threats. From drug smuggling to detection of explosives, every activity where sniffer dogs are used could be systematized, thanks to the merger of AI, autonomous robotics, and olfactory chips.
Search and rescue could also benefit from olfactory chips to find survivors under destroyed buildings after a natural catastrophe.
One reason why most animals have a developed sense of smell is to detect if a food is edible or spoiled. We can imagine that very sensitive olfactory chips specialized in food products could be very useful for the food industry.
Similarly, farming drones could also be used to smell the ripening of fruit, the presence of fungal crop diseases, insect pheromones, etc.
It has been known for a while now that some diseases are associated with the emission of specific smells. Anecdotal data of cats or dogs able to detect cancer have now been proven more than just urban myths through the use of artificial sensors.
Most notably, several cancers have started to be detected through these methods, with the electronic nose able to do so with a 95% accuracy.
The findings suggest that the Penn-developed tool which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to decipher the mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitting off cells in blood plasma samples could serve as a non-invasive approach to screen for harder-to-detect cancers, such as pancreatic and ovarian.
Penn Medicine News
We also see companies like BrainChip using digital olfactory detection to detect bacteria in blood samples.
It is likely that the more olfactory chips become sensitive and able to detect dozens or hundreds of compounds at once, the more such discoveries could be used for diagnosis, not just of cancer but of many other diseases, especially metabolic diseases.
Contrary to the current version, it could maybe achieve this only from the smell of our skin or breath, not even needing a blood sample.
As a purely silicon-based system, olfactory chips could be integrated into our omnipresent small electronic tools like the smartphone.
It could be useful to constantly monitor and automatically detect threats like carbon monoxide, smoke, or gas leaks or judge the safety of food.
We could also imagine more trivial but nevertheless potentially useful and popular applications, like helping while cooking, recognizing spices, etc.
In the longer run, if coupled with a smell generator, it could even enable the digital transfer of (preferably good) smells between phones.
Another more distant in the future, but not impossible application would be to integrate such olfactory chips capability into the human body.
Especially considering the quick progress of human-machine interfaces, like, for example, Elon Musk's Neuralink.
We could easily imagine such a sensor being integrated into our bodies and giving us warnings about harmful chemicals at levels below what is biologically possible. Or for chemicals we are completely unable to detect naturally.
In the future, with the development of suitable bio-compatible materials, we hope that the biomimetic olfactory chip can also be placed on human body to allow us to smell odor that normally cannot be smelled.
It can also monitor the abnormalities in volatile organic molecules in our breath and emitted by our skin, to warn us on potential diseases, reaching further potential of biomimetic engineering,
Prof. Fan Zhiyong
The potential of olfactory chips is likely to be confined in the first years to serious applications with clear use cases, from disease diagnostics to threat detection. So these applications are most likely where we can find companies that could benefit from this innovation.
(this list did not include chip companies with strong potential in olfactory chips and sensors, but whose largest part of their revenues will most likely stay driven by classical computing chips, like for example Intel's neuromorphic chipor IBMs SyNAPSE Scalable energy-efficient neuro synaptic computing chip).
This artificial intelligence company specializes in creating chips that mimic the human brain through Neural Network Layer Engines (NPEs).
It claims to be the first to commercialize neuromorphic technology. It also sees itself as ahead of serious competitors like IBM and Intel chips, thanks to on-chip learning, standard ML workflow & on-chip convolution.
It is focused on vision, audio, olfactory, and smart transducer applications.
This makes the company a very good candidate to benefit from progress in olfactory chips. It could directly license the HKUSTs discovery, try to replicate it, or see its own chips become a key part of the hardware required for interpreting the nanotube sensor array data.
The company sees a massive potential market for its products, including machine vision and olfactory capacities.
BrainChip has a high-margin IP business model, where it licenses its technology for an upfront fee and royaltiesstreams, and then partnering with system integrators to create the final product.
Honeywell is a leader in detection & sensors, with a strong or dominant presence in industries like building automation, aerospace, and safety (many of its aerospace and building activities are linked to sensor technologies).
As a recognized leader in sensors & monitoring, it could be in a prime position to commercialize and expand the scope of gas detectors from its current limited (but already lucrative) state to an omnipresent tool.
Honeywell is also at the forefront of other technological innovations, notably quantum computing through its ownership of 54% of Quantunuumand a business sector we discussed in our article The Current State of Quantum Computing.
It is also active in Liquid Metal Printing, something we discussed in Liquid Metal Printing May Become a Productive Force in the Landscape of Manufacturing and Design.
Honeywell is already a massive company in the sensor and automation sector, with ambitious goals in a large array of innovative technologies.
So even if biomimetic olfactory chips could be a competitor in the short term, it is likely that it will be able to adapt and benefit from the growth of the olfactory sensors market, either through its own R&D or through acquisitions of smaller companies.
See original here:
Biomimetic Olfactory Chips: Are Artificial Intelligence and E-Noses the Next Canary in a Coal Mine? - Securities.io
- What is Artificial Intelligence? How Does AI Work? | Built In [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2019]
- Artificial Intelligence What it is and why it matters | SAS [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2019]
- artificial intelligence | Definition, Examples, and ... [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2019]
- Benefits & Risks of Artificial Intelligence - Future of ... [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2019]
- What is AI (artificial intelligence)? - Definition from ... [Last Updated On: September 11th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 11th, 2019]
- What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? ... - Techopedia [Last Updated On: September 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 13th, 2019]
- 9 Powerful Examples of Artificial Intelligence in Use ... [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2019]
- What's the Difference Between Robotics and Artificial ... [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2019]
- The Impact of Artificial Intelligence - Widespread Job Losses [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2019]
- Artificial Intelligence & the Pharma Industry: What's Next ... [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2019]
- Artificial Intelligence | GE Research [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2019]
- A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) - IMDb [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2019]
- 10 Best Artificial Intelligence Course & Certification [2019 ... [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2019]
- Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: the future is amazing ... [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2019]
- Will Artificial Intelligence Help Resolve the Food Crisis? - Inter Press Service [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2019]
- Two-thirds of employees would trust a robot boss more than a real one - World Economic Forum [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2019]
- UofL partners with industry experts to launch Artificial Intelligence Innovation Consortium Lane Report | Kentucky Business & Economic News - The... [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2019]
- China Sees Surge of Edtech Investments With Focus on Artificial Intelligence - Karma [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2019]
- NIST researchers use artificial intelligence for quality control of stem cell-derived tissues - National Institutes of Health [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2019]
- Indiana University Touts Big Red 200 and Artificial Intelligence at SC19 - HPCwire [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2019]
- One way for the Pentagon to prove it's serious about artificial intelligence - C4ISRNet [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2019]
- Artificial Intelligence Will Enable the Future, Blockchain Will Secure It - Cointelegraph [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2019]
- Artificial intelligence has become a driving force in everyday life, says LivePerson CEO - CNBC [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2019]
- 4 Reasons to Use Artificial Intelligence in Your Next Embedded Design - DesignNews [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2019]
- Artificial Intelligence Essay - 966 Words | Bartleby [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2019]
- AI News: Track The Latest Artificial Intelligence Trends And ... [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2019]
- AI in contact centres: It's time to stop talking about artificial intelligence - Verdict [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2019]
- Newsrooms have five years to embrace artificial intelligence or they risk becoming irrelevant - Journalism.co.uk [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2019]
- Scientists used IBM Watson to discover an ancient humanoid stick figure - Business Insider [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2019]
- The Mark Foundation Funds Eight Projects at the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Cancer Research - BioSpace [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2019]
- Colorado at the forefront of AI and what it means for jobs of the future - The Denver Channel [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2019]
- Highlights: Addressing fairness in the context of artificial intelligence - Brookings Institution [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2019]
- Artificial intelligence won't kill journalism or save it, but the sooner newsrooms buy in, the better - Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2019]
- How To Get Your Rsum Past The Artificial Intelligence Gatekeepers - Forbes [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2019]
- Epiq expands company-wide initiative to accelerate the deployment of artificial intelligence for clients globally - GlobeNewswire [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2019]
- Preparing the Military for a Role on an Artificial Intelligence Battlefield - The National Interest Online [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2019]
- Podcast decodes ethics in artificial intelligence and its relevance to public - Daily Bruin [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2019]
- Global Military Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybernetics Market Report, 2019-2024: Focus on Platforms, Technologies, Applications and Services -... [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2019]
- Artificial intelligence warning: Development of AI is comparable to nuclear bomb - Express.co.uk [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2019]
- Google's new study reveals 'Artificial Intelligence benefiting journalism' - Digital Information World [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2019]
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Retail Market worth $15.3 billion by 2025 - Exclusive Report by Meticulous Research - GlobeNewswire [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2019]
- With artificial intelligence to a better wood product - Newswise [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2019]
- Report to Congress on Artificial Intelligence and National Security - USNI News [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2019]
- Most plastic is not getting recycled, and AI robots could be a solution - Business Insider [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2019]
- Fujifilm Showcases Artificial Intelligence Initiative And Advances AI - AiThority [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2019]
- Artificial intelligence could be one of the most valuable tools mankind has built - here's one small but meani - Business Insider India [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2019]
- Artificial Intelligence: A Need of Modern 'Intelligent' Education - Thrive Global [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2019]
- Drones And Artificial Intelligence Help Combat The San Francisco Bays Trash Problem - Forbes [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2019]
- DesignCon Expands Into Artificial Intelligence, Automotive, 5G, IoT, and More For 2020 Edition - I-Connect007 [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2019]
- Is St. Louis ready for artificial intelligence? It will steal white-collar jobs here, too - STLtoday.com [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2019]
- IT chiefs recognise the risks of artificial intelligence bias - ComputerWeekly.com [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2019]
- PNNL researchers working to improve doctor-patient care through artificial intelligence - NBC Right Now [Last Updated On: November 28th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 28th, 2019]
- How Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence Are Helping Entrepreneurs Create a Better Customer Experience - CTOvision [Last Updated On: November 28th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 28th, 2019]
- Manufacturing Leaders' Summit: Realising the promise of Artificial Intelligence - Manufacturer.com [Last Updated On: November 28th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 28th, 2019]
- 2019 Artificial Intelligence in Precision Health - Dedication to Discuss & Analyze AI Products Related to Precision Healthcare Already Available -... [Last Updated On: November 28th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 28th, 2019]
- Artificial intelligence will affect Salt Lake, Ogden more than most areas in the nation, study shows - KSL.com [Last Updated On: November 28th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 28th, 2019]
- It Pays To Break Artificial Intelligence Out Of The Lab, Study Confirms - Forbes [Last Updated On: November 28th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 28th, 2019]
- The Best Artificial Intelligence Stocks of 2019 -- and The Top AI Stock for 2020 - The Motley Fool [Last Updated On: November 28th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 28th, 2019]
- Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) Market Research Report 2019-2024 - Embedded AI in Support of IoT Things/Objects Will Reach $4.6B Globally by... [Last Updated On: December 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 1st, 2019]
- How Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence Are Helping Entrepreneurs Create a Better Customer Experience - Entrepreneur [Last Updated On: December 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 1st, 2019]
- SC Proposes Introduction Of Artificial Intelligence In Justice Delivery System - Inc42 Media [Last Updated On: December 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 1st, 2019]
- Artificial intelligence in FX 'may be hype' - FX Week [Last Updated On: December 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 1st, 2019]
- Fujifilm Showcases Artificial Intelligence Initiative And Advances at RSNA 2019 - Imaging Technology News [Last Updated On: December 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 1st, 2019]
- The Surprising Way Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Transportation - Forbes [Last Updated On: December 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 1st, 2019]
- Artificial Intelligence in 2020: The Architecture and the Infrastructure - Gigaom [Last Updated On: December 2nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 2nd, 2019]
- AI IN BANKING: Artificial intelligence could be a near $450 billion opportunity for banks - here are the strat - Business Insider India [Last Updated On: December 2nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 2nd, 2019]
- The impact of artificial intelligence on humans - Bangkok Post [Last Updated On: December 2nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 2nd, 2019]
- Should the EU embrace artificial intelligence, or fear it? - EURACTIV [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2019]
- BioSig Technologies Announces New Collaboration on Development of Artificial Intelligence Solutions in Healthcare - GlobeNewswire [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2019]
- Artificial intelligence-based fitness is promising but may not be for everyone - Livemint [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2019]
- Pondering the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care Kansas City Experts Team Up on Emerging - Flatland [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2019]
- Baidu Leads the Way in Innovation with 5712 Artificial Intelligence Patent Applications - GlobeNewswire [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2019]
- Artificial Intelligence and National Security, and More from CRS - Secrecy News [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2019]
- Longer Looks: The Psychology Of Voting; Overexcited Neurons And Artificial Intelligence; And More - Kaiser Health News [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2019]
- Emotion Artificial Intelligence Market Business Opportunities and Forecast from 2019-2025 | Eyesight Technologies, Affectiva - The Connect Report [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2019]
- The next generation of user experience is artificially intelligent - ZDNet [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2019]
- What Jobs Will Artificial Intelligence Affect? - EHS Today [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2019]
- Will the next Mozart or Picasso come from artificial intelligence? No, but here's what might happen instead - Ladders [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2019]
- Artificial intelligence apps, Parkinsons and me - BBC News [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2019]
- VA launches National Artificial Intelligence Institute to drive research and development - FierceHealthcare [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2019]