Giving Robots a Sense of Smell

Many threats and opportunities in the real world are chemical—leaks, contaminants, decaying materials, or invisible hazards. Adding olfactory capabilities transforms robots from passive navigators into chemically-aware, context-sensitive agents capable of acting on molecular-level cues.

Hazardous Material Detection

Industrial and public environments are full of invisible dangers. From gas leaks to solvent spills, Nosy-enabled robots can patrol factories, warehouses, or labs, scanning for volatile compounds and triggering alerts or automated containment protocols. With LEM-powered detection, response times improve and human exposure drops to near zero.

Search & Rescue Operations

In disaster zones, chemical traces often precede visual signs. Smell-aware drones or ground units can detect human presence through sweat, blood, or exhaled gases—even when visibility is poor. Nosy nodes make robots more than just tools—they become lifesaving partners, capable of sniffing through rubble, smoke, or water vapor to find survivors.

Security & Threat Identification

Whether it’s detecting narcotics in public transit systems or identifying explosive residues at checkpoints, Nosy’s real-time scent intelligence enhances the capabilities of autonomous surveillance units. Unlike sniffer dogs, Nosy sensors don’t tire, drift, or need rest—offering scalable, always-on protection.

Smell at Home

Imagine a home assistant that alerts you not just when the oven’s on, but when food is burning—or worse, when gas is leaking. Nosy sensors embedded in mobile home robots can detect smoke, mold, cleaning agents, or pet accidents, providing real-time alerts and context-aware home automation triggers.

Inside Self-Driving Cars

Autonomous vehicles equipped with scent sensors become smarter and safer. Nosy can detect overheating components, leaking battery chemicals, in-cabin smoke, or even signs of an unwell passenger (e.g., diabetic ketoacidosis breath). The future of in-cabin safety and comfort is multisensory—and scent is key.

Plug & Play for Robotic Platforms

Nosy’s nanosensor hardware and inference APIs can be seamlessly integrated into a wide range of robotic platforms—from humanoid bots to delivery drones to warehouse AMRs (autonomous mobile robots). Our developer SDKs and open APIs make it simple to embed scent awareness into existing systems.

A New Frontier in Machine Perception

As robots become more autonomous, multisensory perception is no longer optional—it’s essential. Nosy makes it possible for machines to detect and interpret chemical signals at scale, paving the way for a new generation of intelligent, responsive, and biologically inspired robotics.