Demo: Unveiling a Two-dimensional Odor Source Tracking System with Chemical Sensing

Abstract

Current localization application typically deploys conventional information carriers, i.e., electromagnetic (EM) or acoustic waves, which may be prohibitive in certain cases. To tackle this issue, we designed a demo where the sense of smell is incorporated within the searching robot, which can detect the odor source (alcohol) in a two-dimensional (2D) channel via molecular communication (MC). Initially, when the odor source is not detected, the robot employs a gradually expanding range search algorithm akin to a spiral search. Once the ethanol molecules are detected, i.e., any sensed signal exceeds a given threshold, the robot switches to tracking mode and gradually approaches the odor source. When the chemical signals of all the sensors exceed the threshold, the robot ceases movement, and a buzzer sounds an alarm, indicating successful localization of the odor source. Experimental results demonstrate that by utilizing the MC mechanism, this system can effectively localize the odor source, showcasing the significant potential of the sense of smell for robots.