In an example, a sample collection apparatus to collect sample from a detection subject disposed in a sample collection zone includes a circumferential ring tubing surrounding an interior and configured to be moved between first ring tubing position and second ring tubing position. The circumferential ring tubing includes air nozzles along a circumferential length of the ring tubing to direct targeted air flow within the sample collection zone as the ring tubing is moved between the first ring tubing position and the second ring tubing position, to blow air toward the detection subject in the sample collection zone in the interior and to push a sample of the detection subject via an air flow toward a receptacle. Adjustable actuators are affixed along a periphery of the circumferential ring tubing to adjust the circumferential length of the circumferential ring tubing between a first circumferential length and a second circumferential length.

A database comprising a digital signature of a smell, the digital signature comprising a smell data, the smell data comprising a response signal that is a function of a first data corresponding to a generator generating the response signal and a second data corresponding to a predetermined stimulus for generating the response signal, wherein the digital signature comprises binary data, wherein the response signal is a measurable response of the generator to the predetermined stimulus that is a function of change in electrical properties of resistance or impedance in the generator. wherein the generator generating the smell-related response signal is a Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) in a sensor or a sensor pixel of a sensor array having a plurality of MOS sensor pixels having an MOS active material exposed to an analyte in the gas environment and the predetermined stimulus is a sequence of predetermined temperatures.

An odor-localizing autonomous air vehicle includes an airborne robotic platform having a navigation platform, a wireless transmitter communicatively coupled to a management console, and an olfactory sensor mounted on the airborne robotic platform that reacts to at least one olfactory odor. A controller is communicatively coupled to the airborne robotic platform, the navigation platform, and the biological sensor. The controller monitors the olfactory sensor. In response to the biological sensor detecting the at least one olfactory odor, the controller directs the airborne platform to three-dimensionally map an olfactory plume of the at least one olfactory odor using an olfactory-driven search pattern. The controller stores the three-dimensional map for later retrieval or transmits the three-dimensional map of the olfactory plume to the management console via the wireless transmitter. The olfactory sensor is a photonic crystal enclosure that contains plasmonic nanoparticles.

An object is enclosed but moveable within a container. An interior surface of the container includes two or more distinct areal segments exhibiting corresponding surface characteristics. Movement of the object while in contact with each areal segment results in a corresponding sensory input to a user moving the container. The corresponding surface characteristic of each areal segment differs from the corresponding surface characteristic of at least one other areal segment, so that the corresponding sensory inputs to the user resulting from movement of the object while in contact with those areal segments differ from one another. The corresponding sensory inputs can include auditory inputs, tactile inputs, visual inputs, olfactory inputs, or sensor readouts. The article can be employed in methods wherein a user identifies the object, or characterizes the object or areal segments, based on the sensory inputs.

This application relates to methods for determining the concentration of an odorant composition for use with an age-restricted product. The methods generally include creating an odor or flavor profile that may be used to either optimize flavors and odors to appeal to certain age groups, or to discourage use by certain age groups. In some instances, odorant compositions may be screened to determine whether they are differentially perceived by age groups.

Metal oxide-based integrated chemical sensors using a hybrid polycrystalline gas-sensitive material to create a uniform and integrated sensory system. The sensor system provides the unique properties such as improved sensor sensitivity due to reduced thickness, improved selectivity for specific analyte detection in the ppb, faster time of response, decreased time of reset and decreased power consumption in comparison to existing sensor technologies. The present invention also provides novel, metal oxide-based chemical sensor platforms, a novel method of making metal oxide-based chemical sensors, platforms and/or integrated chemical sensors.

In an example, a sample collection apparatus to collect sample from a detection subject includes a circumferential ring tubing surrounding an interior and configured to be moved between bottom ring tubing position and top ring tubing position. The circumferential ring tubing includes air nozzles along a circumferential length of the ring tubing to direct air flow toward the interior as the ring tubing is moved from the top ring tubing position to the bottom ring tubing position, to blow air toward the detection subject in a sample collection zone in the interior and to push a sample of the detection subject via an air flow toward a platform on which the detection subject is positioned. The sample includes particles and/or vapor of the detection subject. A receptacle is disposed below the platform to collect the sample carried by the air flow through collection openings of the platform to the receptacle.

An additive manufacturing system comprising at least one electronic nose (e-nose) is provided. The e-nose may comprise a housing and gas sensors. The housing may have an air channel. The active sensor portion of the sensors are positioned in the air channel. The housing may be mounted to an extruder head of an additive manufacturing device. The system may also comprise a processor. The processor may determine whether there is an abnormality in an additive manufacturing process based on one or more combinations of outputs from the gas sensors received during the additive manufacturing process input into a deployed machine learning model; and generate a report for the additive manufacturing process containing the determination.

A system for determining an age and/or quality of food or beverage based on one or more combinations of outputs from gas sensors input into a deployed machine learning model is provided. The system may comprise an electronic nose which may comprise a housing and the gas sensors. The housing may have an air channel. Each sensor has its active sensor portion in the air channel. A system for predicting one or more natural language descriptors associated with aromas of an item based on one or more outputs of the gas sensors and calculated one or more ratios input into a logistic regression model is also provided.

A system for predicting one or more analytes based on outputs from thin film gas sensors is provided. The system may comprise an electronic nose (e-nose). The e-nose may comprise the gas sensors and a first processor. The system may further comprise a second processor. The second processor may be configured to receive the output from each of the gas sensors, evaluate a prediction accuracy using an evaluation parameter of each of a plurality of models which are trained and tested and select a model from among the plurality of models to deploy based on a comparison of the evaluation parameter for each of the plurality of models and use the same. The second processor may also receive, an output of each of the gas sensors caused by unknown one or more analytes; and predict, using the deployed model, the one or more analytes that causes the output.