Sniffing speeds up chemical detection by controlling air-flows near sensors

Thomas L. Spencer, Adams Clark, Jordi Fonollosa, Emmanuel Virot and David L. Hu ()
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Thomas L. Spencer: Georgia Institute of Technology
Adams Clark: Georgia Institute of Technology
Jordi Fonollosa: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Emmanuel Virot: Harvard University
David L. Hu: Georgia Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Most mammals sniff to detect odors, but little is known how the periodic inhale and exhale that make up a sniff helps to improve odor detection. In this combined experimental and theoretical study, we use fluid mechanics and machine olfaction to rationalize the benefits of sniffing at different rates. We design and build a bellows and sensor system to detect the change in current as a function of odor concentration. A fast sniff enables quick odor recognition, but too fast a sniff makes the amplitude of the signal comparable to noise. A slow sniff increases signal amplitude but delays its transmission. This trade-off may inspire the design of future devices that can actively modulate their sniffing frequency according to different odors.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-21405-y

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21405-y

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