
Ainos and ugo have partnered to present a way of scent to service robots. Supply: Ainos
Not solely are robots getting smarter, however they’re additionally turning into extra perceptive, due to advances in synthetic intelligence and new sensors. Ainos Inc. final week introduced a strategic partnership with ugo Inc. to combine its AI Nostril expertise with ugo’s autonomous robotic.
The businesses mentioned the collaboration marks a milestone within the digitization of the sense of scent and can present new capabilities for robots in industrial security, healthcare, and public safety.
“This partnership shall be a defining second in our journey to digitize scent,” mentioned Chun-Hsien (Eddy) Tsai, chairman, president and CEO of Ainos. “By combining AI Nostril’s cutting-edge olfactory sensing with ugo’s superior robotics, we’ll create a brand new class of clever machines that may see, hear, and now scent.”
Ainos expertise detects VOCs
San Diego, Calif.-based Ainos mentioned it develops medical and healthcare programs primarily based on its its proprietary AI Nostril and VELDONA applied sciences. The title “Ainos” combines “AI” and “Nostril” to indicate the firm‘s dedication to enabling AI with the flexibility to scent and people to stay more healthy.
Its clinical-stage product pipeline contains telehealth-friendly point-of-care testing (POCT) programs powered by AI Nostril, VELDONA human and animal oral therapeutics, and human orphan medication.
AI Nostril, initially developed for medical diagnostics, mimics human olfaction by detecting and analyzing unstable natural compounds (VOCs). Backed by practically a decade of analysis and a powerful patent portfolio, the sensor has already demonstrated its effectiveness in healthcare and industrial environments, in response to the corporate.
In Japanese semiconductor manufacturing services, AI Nostril has efficiently recognized 22 completely different VOCs with practically 80% accuracy. This demonstrates its potential to reinforce real-time security monitoring and environmental evaluation, mentioned Ainos.
Different efforts to present robots a way of scent embody analysis at Tel Aviv College, TAST-E, and Scentience.ai.
ugo robots scent industrial alternatives
Based in 2018, ugo mentioned it combines the benefits of remote-controlled robots and totally automated robots for operations tailor-made to every buyer web site. “ugo” is the Tokyo-based firm‘s next-generation avatar robotic designed to collaborate with individuals and digitally rework enterprise.
“Olfaction is the following frontier in robotics,” acknowledged Ken Matsui, consultant director of ugo. “Integrating AI Nostril into our robots will considerably broaden their sensory intelligence, making them simpler in real-world functions throughout industries.”
“Our robots, together with ugo Professional, ugo Ex, and ugo mini, are deployed in Japanese sectors dealing with employee shortages, akin to safety patrols and inspection duties, in workplace buildings, information facilities, manufacturing crops, and public services,” he added. “By equipping ugo robots with AI-driven scent detection, we’re taking automation to the following degree, offering clever options that enhance office security, environmental monitoring, and healthcare help.”
ugo is Japan’s largest service robotic firm by market share, in response to Fuji Keizai Group’s “2024 Version: Present Standing and Future Prospects of the Worldwide Robotic-Associated Market – Service Robotic Version” printed on Jan. 15, 2024.
Companions work to appreciate smarter robots
“Till now, robots have relied totally on imaginative and prescient, sound, and contact to understand their environment,” mentioned Ainos. “Odor has remained an unsolved technological problem — however Ainos is about to alter that.”
Ainos and ugo laid out steps of their plan to carry robots with AI-powered olfaction from idea to actuality:
- Expertise integration and prototyping: The companions mentioned they may merge AI Nostril with ugo robots and conduct preliminary efficiency testing.
- Actual-world pilot deployments: The businesses will validate their collectively developed system in industries akin to semiconductor manufacturing and public security.
- AI optimization and efficiency enhancement: They plan to refine system efficiency and AI fashions primarily based on real-world information.
- International gommercialization and market growth: Ainos and ugo mentioned they may scale the deployment of AI Nostril-enabled robots worldwide.
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Ainos and ugo listing use circumstances
Not solely can robots with olfactory notion present industrial worth, asserted Ainos and ugo, however they may additionally tackle labor shortages in vital industries worldwide. The businesses mentioned their programs may:
- Improve industrial security: Robots with a way of scent may very well be designed to alleviate human staff of hazardous inspections, releasing individuals to give attention to high-value duties. They might detect gasoline leaks, establish poisonous chemical compounds, and forestall tools failures in semiconductor, chemical, and manufacturing crops.
- Strengthen public security: The built-in programs may help safety patrols by detecting explosives, narcotics, and dangerous substances in transportation hubs and demanding infrastructure. AI Nostril-integrated robots may present steady, automated surveillance in websites starting from airports to factories, mentioned the businesses.
- Advance environmental monitoring: They might present steady air high quality assessments, detect pollution, and help good metropolis initiatives.
- Rework healthcare: As demand for companies surges due to growing old populations, the necessity for medical and caregiving staffers is rising. Ainos and ugo mentioned their robots may analyze VOC samples for early illness detection, help an infection management in hospitals, and monitor aged care services for hygiene and well being dangers.
“By combining AI-powered scent detection with autonomous robotics, Ainos and ugo will assist industries enhance effectivity, scale back operational prices, and improve office security whereas addressing the worldwide labor hole,” they mentioned.

Olfactory-enabled AI robots may serve a number of industrial use circumstances. Supply: Ainos
Robotic notion provided through a number of fashions
By integrating AI Nostril into ugo’s robotic platform, the businesses mentioned they’re looking for potential income alternatives by varied enterprise fashions:
- Expertise licensing and {hardware} gross sales: Ainos will license AI Nostril expertise to ugo, enabling ugo to supply premium olfaction-enabled robots.
- Robotics-as-a-service (RaaS): Companies can deploy the robots by subscription-based fashions for steady air monitoring and security inspections.
- Cloud-based scent intelligence: AI Nostril-generated information shall be built-in into cloud analytics platforms, providing insights for good factories, healthcare, and safety functions.
- Upkeep and sensor optimization: Ongoing servicing, software program updates, and sensor calibration will guarantee long-term reliability and accuracy, mentioned the companions.
“Because the world faces growing challenges in workforce shortages, sustainability, and public security, this partnership will contribute to a better, more healthy, and safer future,” the businesses mentioned. “Ainos and ugo are dedicated to driving innovation that improves lives and helps industries in want of clever automation.”