ELECTRONIC NOSE

BY
III rd YEAR
ENGINEERING
.

ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Malineni Lakshmaih Womens COLLEGE OF

ENGINEERING

KURAKU SINDHUJA (12KE1A0454)

Email-id:sindhujakuraku@gmail.com
RAVALI KRISHNA SAI(12KE1A0430)
Email-id:rksai12@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
The term "electronic nose" was
first used in a jocular sense during our
early work with sensor arrays in the
1980's. An electronic nose (e-nose) is a
device

that

identifies

the

specific

components of an odor and analyzes its

chemical makeup to identify it. Of all the
five senses, olfaction uses the largest
part of the brain and is an essential part
of our daily lives.
toxic and otherwise hazardous situations
that humans may wish to avoid. An
electronic nose can be regarded as a
modular system comprising a set of
active materials which detect the odour,
associated sensors which transduce the
chemical quantity into electrical signals,
by

processed in a sophisticated manner. An

odor is composed of molecules, each of
which has a specific size and shape.
Each

of

these

correspondingly

molecules
sized

has

and

shaped

receptor in the human nose. When a

specific receptor receives a molecule, it
sends a signal to the brain and the brain
identifies the smell associated with that
particular molecule. Electronic noses

Further, the E-nose can be sent to detect

followed

array of odour sensors need to be

appropriate

signal

conditioning and processing to classify

known odours or identify unknown
odours. The signals generated by an

based on the biological model work in a

similar
sensors

manner,
for

the

albeit

substituting

receptors,

and

transmitting the signal to a program for

processing, rather than to the brain.
Electronic noses are useful in various
fields. Currently, the biggest market for
electronic noses is the food industry.
Environmental applications of electronic
noses include analysis of fuel mixtures,
detection of oil leaks, testing ground
water for odors, and identification of

household odors. Sensors can detect

would cause huge delays, apart from

toxic CO, which is odorless to humans.

finding the manpower to do it. A

An electronic nose has applicability as a

possible

diagnostic tool. The tragic bombings in

electronic nose to sniff out possible

London on the 7 July 2005 have caused

explosives so that only selected bags

many to call for bag searching at the

need to be searched by staff.

alternative

is

using

an

ticket barriers on the Underground. This

1.0 INTRODUCTION:

analyzes its chemical makeup to identify

Scientists have endowed computers with

it.

eyes to see, thanks to digital cameras,

2.0

and ears to hear, via microphones and

ELECTRONIC NOSE?

sophisticated recognition software. Now

An electronic nose can be regarded as a

they're taking computers further into the

modular system comprising a set of

realm

the

active materials which detect the odour,

development of an artificial nose. The

associated sensors which transduce the

term "electronic nose" was first used in a

chemical quantity into electrical signals,

jocular sense during our early work with

followed

sensor arrays in the 1980's. As the

conditioning and processing to classify

technology

became

known odours or identify unknown

apparent that the animal and human

odours. The "electronic nose" is a

olfactory systems operate on the same

relatively new tool that may be used for

principle: A relatively small number of

safety, quality, or process monitoring,

nonselective

accomplishing

of

the

senses

developed,

receptors

with

it

allow

the

WHAT

by

IS

appropriate

in

few

AN

signal

minutes

discrimination of thousands of different

procedures that may presently require

odors. Electronic/artificial noses are

days

being developed as systems for the

components of an electronic nose are the

automated detection and classification of

sensing

odors, vapors, and gases. An electronic

chemical sensors and the automated

nose (e-nose) is a device that identifies

pattern recognition system. The sensing

the specific components of an odor and

system can be an array of several

to complete. The two main

system

which

consists

of

different

sensing

elements

(e.g.,

chemical sensors), where each element

measures a different property of the
sensed chemical, or it can be a single
sensing device (e.g., spectrometer) that
produces an array of measurements for
each

chemical,

combination.

or

it

The

can

be

quantity

a
and

complexity of the data collected by

sensors array can make conventional
chemical

analysis

of

data

in

an

automated fashion difficult. Gas sensors

tend to have very broad selectivity,

3.0

ELECTRONIC

SCHEME:

responding to many different substances.

This

is

disadvantage

in

most

NOSE

An electronic nose can be

regarded

as

modular

system

applications, but in the electronic nose, it

comprising a set of active materials

is a definite advantage. ENose can detect

which detect the odour, associated

an electronic change of 1 part per

sensors which transduce the chemical

million. Although every sensor in an

quantity into electrical signals, followed

array may respond to a given chemical,

by appropriate signal conditioning and

these responses will usually be different.

processing to classify known odours or

Figure 1 shows sets of responses of a

identify unknown odours, see Figure 4

typical sensor array to different pure

chemicals:

FIGURE-3 CHEMICAL SENSOR

FIGURE-2 ELECTRONIC NOSE SCHEME

Using variants of molecules found in

biology it is possible to create 'senses'
from electrical charges caused by the
binding of the molecules to mimic the
human nose. With this approach, the
sensitivity of the device can be a
thousand times better than the currently
available electronic nose.
The receptors, which will be
housed within an artificial membrane,
remain in a closed steady state until
approached by smell molecules, when
they will open and transmit an electrical
signal which will indicate the nature of
the odour

ENose uses a collection of 16 different

polymer films. These films are specially
designed to conduct electricity. When a
substance -- such as the stray molecules
from a glass of soda -- is absorbed into
these films, the films expand slightly,
and that changes how much electricity
they conduct. Because each film is made
of a different polymer, each one reacts to
each substance, or analyte, in a slightly
different way. And, while the changes in
conductivity in a single polymer film
wouldn't be enough to identify an
analyte, the varied changes in 16 films
produce

distinctive,

identifiable

pattern.

4.0 DATA PROCESSING

METHODS:

The signals generated by an array of

odour sensors need to be processed in a
sophisticated manner. The electronic
nose

research

group

has

obtained

considerable experience in the use of

various parametric and non-parametric
pattern

analysis

techniques.

These

include the use of linear and non-linear

techniques,
function

such

as

analysis,

discriminant

cluster

analysis,

genetic algorithms, fuzzy logic, and

Figure-4 electronic nose

adaptive models. An odor is composed

5.0 ANALOGY BETWEEN

of molecules, each of which has a

THE BIOLOGICAL NOSE

specific size and shape. Each of these

AND E-NOSE:

molecules has a correspondingly sized

and shaped receptor in the human nose.
When a specific receptor receives a
molecule, it sends a signal to the brain
and the brain identifies the smell
associated with that particular molecule.
Electronic noses based on the biological
model work in a similar manner, albeit
substituting sensors for the receptors,
and transmitting the signal to a program
for processing, rather than to the brain.
Electronic noses are one example of a
growing

research

biomimetics,
involves

or

area

biomimicry,

human-made

called
which

applications

patterned on natural phenomena.

Of all the five senses,

olfaction uses the largest part of the
brain and is an essential part of our daily
lives. Indeed, the appeal of most flavors
is more related to the odor arising from
volatiles than to the reaction of the taste
buds to dissolved substances. Our
olfactory system has evolved not only to
enhance taste but also to warn us of
dangerous situations. We can easily
detect just a few parts per billion of the
toxic gas hydrogen sulfide in sewer gas,
an ability that can save our life.
Olfaction is closely related to the limbic
or primitive brain, and odors can elicit
basic emotions like love, sadness, or fear

The term, "electronic

nose" or "E-nose" has come into
common usage as a generic term for an
array

of

chemical

gas

sensors

incorporated into an artificial olfaction

device, after its introduction in the title
of a landmark conference on this subject
in Iceland in 1991. The term E-nose is
not

pejorative.

There

are

striking

analogies between the artificial noses of

man and the "Bio-nose" constructed by
Nature. Figure 2 illustrates a biological
nose and points out the important
features

of

this

"instrument".

Fig-6 Artificial Electronic Nose

The human nose uses the lungs to bring

the odor to the epithelium layer; the
electronic nose has a pump. The human
nose has mucous, hairs, and membranes
to act as filters and concentrators, while
the E-nose has an inlet sampling system
that provides sample filtration and
conditioning to protect the sensors and
enhance
epithelium

selectivity.
contains

The
the

human
olfactory

epithelium, which contains millions of

sensing cells, selected from 100-200
different genotypes that interact with the
odorous molecules in unique ways. The
Fig-5 the "Biological Nose" (by Mother Nature)

E-nose has a variety of sensors that

interact differently with the sample. The

Figure

illustrates

the

artificial

human receptors convert the chemical

electronic nose. Comparing the two is

responses to electronic nerve impulses.

instructive.

The unique patterns of nerve impulses

are propagated by neurons through a
complex network before reaching the
higher brain for interpretation. Similarly,
the chemical sensors in the E-nose react

with the sample and produce electrical

need better noses!That's why NASA is

signals. A computer reads the unique

developing the Electronic Nose, or

pattern of signals, and interprets them

ENose for short. It's a device that can

with some form of intelligent pattern

learn to recognize almost any compound

classification algorithm. From these

or combination of compounds. It can

similarities we can easily understand the

even be trained to distinguish between

nomenclature. However, there are still

Pepsi and Coke. Like a human nose, the

fundamental differences in both the

ENose is amazingly versatile, yet it's

instrumentation and software! The Bio-

much more sensitive

nose can perform tasks still out of reach

for the E-nose, but the reverse is also
true
October 6, 2004: Onboard the space
Figure-7 working process

station, astronauts are surrounded by

ammonia. It flows through pipes,
carrying heat generated inside the station

6.0

ADVANTAGES

OF

E-

(by people and electronics) outside to

NOSE:

space. Ammonia helps keep the station

Our human nose is elegant, sensitive,

habitable.

and

self-repairing,

but

the

E-nose

sensors do not fatigue or get the "flu".

But it's also a poison. And if it leaks, the

Further, the E-nose can be sent to detect

astronauts will need to know quickly.

toxic and otherwise hazardous situations

Ammonia becomes dangerous at a

that

humans

concentration of a few parts per million

6.1

ELECTRONIC

(ppm). Humans, though, can't sense it

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING:

may

wish

to

avoid.

NOSE

FOR

until it reaches about 50 ppmAnd then

there's fire. Before an electrical fire

Enormous amounts of

breaks out, increasing heat releases a

hazardous waste (nuclear, chemical, and

variety of signature molecules. Humans

mixed wastes) were generated by more

can't

until

than 40 years of weapons production

concentrations become high. Astronauts

in the U.S. Department of Energys

sense

them

either

weapons

complex.

Northwest

National

The

Pacific
is

liver problems. Infected wounds and

exploring the technologies required to

tissues emit distinctive odors that can be

perform environmental restoration and

detected by an electronic nose. Odors

waste management in a cost effective

coming from body fluids can indicate

manner.

the

liver and bladder problems. A more

development of portable, inexpensive

futuristic application of electronic noses

systems

has

This

Laboratory

sinus problems, infections, diabetes, and

effort

capable

includes
of

real-time

identification of contaminants in the

been

recently

proposed

for

telesurgery

field. Electronic noses fit this category.

Environmental applications of electronic
noses include analysis of fuel mixtures,

6.3 ELECTRONICS NOSE FOR THE

FOOD INDUSTRY:

detection of oil leaks, testing ground

water for odors, and identification of
household odors. Potential applications
include identification of toxic wastes, air
quality

monitoring,

and

monitoring

factory emissions. Sensors can detect

toxic CO, which is odorless to humans.
6.2

ELECTRONIC

NOSES

FOR

Currently, the biggest

market for electronic noses is the food
industry.

Applications

of

electronic

noses in the food industry include

quality assessment in food production,
inspection of food quality by odor,
control of food cooking processes,
inspection

of

fish,

monitoring

the

fermentation process, verifying if orange

MEDICINE:

juice is natural, monitoring food and

Because the sense of

beverage

odors,

inspection

physician,

has

checking plastic wrap for containment of

applicability as a diagnostic tool. An

onion odor, and automated flavor control

electronic nose can examine odors from

to name a few. In some instances

the body (e.g., breath, wounds, body

electronic noses can be used to augment

fluids,

possible

or replace panels of human experts. In

problems. Odors in the breath can be

other cases, electronic noses can be used

indicative of gastrointestinal problems,

to reduce the amount of analytical

etc.)

electronic

and

identify

nose

beverage

whiskey,

smell is an important sense to the

an

of

grading

containers,

chemistry that is performed in food

idea is a device that identifies the

production especially when qualitative

specific components of an odour and

results will do.

analyzes its chemical makeup to identify

it. One mechanism would be an array of

6.4

ELECTRONIC

NOSE

FOR

MULTIMEDIA APPLICATIONS:

odours while a second mechanism would

Multimedia systems are widely used in

consumer

electronics

electronic sensors would sniff out the

environments

see if it could recognize the pattern.

6.6 OTHER APPLICATIONS:

today, where humans can work and

communicate

through

multi-sensory

Electronic nose can be

interfaces. Unfortunately smell detection

used for early fire detection. E-nose

and generation systems are not part of

offers an opportunity to develop an

today's multimedia systems. Hence we

instrumental approach for the human

can use electronic nose in multimedia

analytical endpoints like odor, flavor,

environment.

hazardous, contaminated, spoiled, and

the like.

6.5 ELECTRONIC NOSE USED IN

DETECTION OF BOMBS:

7.0 CONCLUSION:

The tragic bombings in

Humans are not well suited

London on the 7 July 2005 have caused

for repetitive or boring tasks that are

many to call for bag searching at the

better left to machines. No wonder the

ticket barriers on the Underground. This

E-nose is sometimes referred to as a

would cause huge delays, apart from

"sniffer". The E-nose has the interesting

finding the manpower to do it. A

ability to address analytical problems

possible

an

that have been refractory to traditional

electronic nose to sniff out possible

analytical approaches. GOSPEL is a

explosives so that only selected bags

European network of excellence in

need to be searched by staff. The

Artificial Olfaction.

alternative

is

using

concept has been around for a long time,

and was initially ridiculed. The basic

8.0 REFERENCE:

1. Electronics for u August 2006 edition.

2.E:\enose\Electrochemistry
encyclopedia---Electrochemicalnose.mht
3.http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y200
4/06oct_enose.htm
4. E:\enose\The Electronic Nose.mht
5. E:\enose\12.mht
6.E:\enose\Artificial
Taste.mht

Noses ___ and