A Nose-Computer Interface Could Turn Dogs Into Super Detectors

Lavella says array tested in rats so far, a version for the dog is coming later. In a demo video seen exclusively by ward, a canary scientist uses a stick to capture air samples from four different petri dishes, each of which has different odors. The stick beeps and odor molecules send a pod to a pod with a tube that puts a rat decorated with the nose – computer interface. Seconds after the animal smells the smell, the aromatic information is transmitted to a phone that sits on the pod. A mobile application displays the name of the smell of animals, as well as a quality score that consider the accuracy and concentration of the molecules.

Currently, the rats of the caneri prototype can detect the firing of the ammunition and the smoker powder, as well as methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanile.

In mammals, the odor and the brain work together to detect the odor. When the odor molecules enter the nose, they are tied to the scent receptors. Humans have about 450 types of odor receptors, while the dog doubles. Each odor stimulates a variety of receptors, produces a unique electrical signal. This signal is transmitted to the smell to process. The lavela scent compares the surface of the bulb to a checkboard. When an odor comes, the squares illuminate the checkerboard in a particular pattern.

The canary uses AI software to detect these patterns and associate them with their odor. After planting the array, scientists reveal the animal to the odor for training AI models. Lavela says the software can be trained in about three sections. During these sessions, scientists present more than two dozen samples of the same odor to animals. Later, the animal comes back to the smell again to legalize the AI ​​models.

The current array planted in the demo rat contains 128 electrodes that capture the neural signal from the scent bulb. Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are working on a new array with 767 electrodes to capture more information. “The next generation of the next generation device will allow more performance in the field against the confusing vapors of our complex background and the air in the air,” said Lavela.

The decoding odor is not a new attempt in any way. Researchers are working “E-nak” technology To detect the odor over the past 40 years. These devices use chemical sensors to convert the odor molecules into electrical signals, which are later analyzed by a pattern-self-recognition system to detect odor sources. However, these devices have been able to detect a small odor of Histor Tihaasically.

“Animals can do things that we can’t get current sensors, so this is a smart way to turn this problem,” said Joel Menland, an allegation researcher at the Monel Chemical Sense Center, a non -profit research institute in Philadelphia.

The array of canary, which is placed on the surface of the smell of the animal, is thinner of tissue paper and a quarter is thinner than the size of the US postal stamp.

Photography: Blas Duros / LLNL