Odor and airflow: complementary senses for a humanoid robot

This paper describes the development of complementary chemical and airflow sensing systems for a humanoid robot. In recent years there has been growing interest in the development of humanoid robots. To function in a safe and efficient manner a humanoid robot must be ´aware´ of its surroundings. For both a human and a humanoid robot two important and inter-related stimuli are odor and airflow. An electronic nose allows odors to be detected and discriminated. Measurement of airflow in the vicinity of a humanoid robot provides important information for localising the source of an odor. In this way, sensors for odor and airflow complement each other. Airflow sensors also measure local air movement and can detect such things as draughts resulting from open doors and the air disturbance caused by walking close to the humanoid robot. This paper describes progress in the development of both the electronic nose and airflow measuring system for a humanoid robot.