
Ainos and ugo have partnered to offer a way of odor to service robots. Source: Ainos
Not solely are robots getting smarter, however they’re additionally changing into extra perceptive, due to advances in synthetic intelligence and new sensors. Ainos Inc. final week introduced a strategic partnership with ugo Inc. to combine its AI Nose expertise with ugo’s autonomous robotic.
The firms mentioned the collaboration marks a milestone within the digitization of the sense of odor and can present new capabilities for robots in industrial security, healthcare, and public safety.
“This partnership will be a defining moment in our journey to digitize smell,” mentioned Chun-Hsien (Eddy) Tsai, chairman, president and CEO of Ainos. “By combining AI Nose’s cutting-edge olfactory sensing with ugo’s advanced robotics, we will create a new category of intelligent machines that can see, hear, and now smell.”
Ainos expertise detects VOCs
San Diego, Calif.-based Ainos mentioned it develops medical and healthcare methods primarily based on its its proprietary AI Nose and VELDONA applied sciences. The identify “Ainos” combines “AI” and “Nose” to indicate the firm‘s dedication to enabling AI with the flexibility to odor and people to reside more healthy.
Its clinical-stage product pipeline consists of telehealth-friendly point-of-care testing (POCT) methods powered by AI Nose, VELDONA human and animal oral therapeutics, and human orphan medication.
AI Nose, initially developed for medical diagnostics, mimics human olfaction by detecting and analyzing unstable natural compounds (VOCs). Backed by almost a decade of analysis and a powerful patent portfolio, the sensor has already demonstrated its effectiveness in healthcare and industrial environments, in keeping with the corporate.
In Japanese semiconductor manufacturing services, AI Nose has efficiently recognized 22 totally different VOCs with almost 80% accuracy. This demonstrates its potential to reinforce real-time security monitoring and environmental evaluation, mentioned Ainos.
Other efforts to offer robots a way of odor embrace analysis at Tel Aviv University, TAST-E, and Scentience.ai.
ugo robots odor business alternatives
Founded in 2018, ugo mentioned it combines some great benefits of remote-controlled robots and totally automated robots for operations tailor-made to every buyer website. “ugo” is the Tokyo-based firm‘s next-generation avatar robotic designed to collaborate with individuals and digitally remodel enterprise.
“Olfaction is the next frontier in robotics,” acknowledged Ken Matsui, consultant director of ugo. “Integrating AI Nose into our robots will significantly expand their sensory intelligence, making them more effective in real-world applications across industries.”
“Our robots, including ugo Pro, ugo Ex, and ugo mini, are deployed in Japanese sectors facing worker shortages, such as security patrols and inspection tasks, in office buildings, data centers, manufacturing plants, and public facilities,” he added. “By equipping ugo robots with AI-driven scent detection, we are taking automation to the next level, providing intelligent solutions that improve workplace safety, environmental monitoring, and healthcare support.”
ugo is Japan’s largest service robotic firm by market share, in keeping with Fuji Keizai Group’s “2024 Edition: Current Status and Future Prospects of the Worldwide Robot-Related Market – Service Robot Edition” printed on Jan. 15, 2024.
Partners work to appreciate smarter robots
“Until now, robots have relied primarily on vision, sound, and touch to perceive their surroundings,” mentioned Ainos. “Smell has remained an unsolved technological challenge — but Ainos is about to change that.”
Ainos and ugo laid out steps of their plan to carry robots with AI-powered olfaction from idea to actuality:
- Technology integration and prototyping: The companions mentioned they are going to merge AI Nose with ugo robots and conduct preliminary efficiency testing.
- Real-world pilot deployments: The firms will validate their collectively developed system in industries akin to semiconductor manufacturing and public security.
- AI optimization and efficiency enhancement: They plan to refine system efficiency and AI fashions primarily based on real-world knowledge.
- Global gommercialization and market growth: Ainos and ugo mentioned they are going to scale the deployment of AI Nose-enabled robots worldwide.
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Ainos and ugo listing use circumstances
Not solely can robots with olfactory notion present business worth, asserted Ainos and ugo, however they may additionally tackle labor shortages in crucial industries worldwide. The firms mentioned their methods might:
- Enhance industrial security: Robots with a way of odor might be designed to alleviate human staff of hazardous inspections, releasing individuals to concentrate on high-value duties. They might detect gasoline leaks, establish poisonous chemical substances, and forestall gear failures in semiconductor, chemical, and manufacturing crops.
- Strengthen public security: The built-in methods might help safety patrols by detecting explosives, narcotics, and dangerous substances in transportation hubs and demanding infrastructure. AI Nose-integrated robots might present steady, automated surveillance in websites starting from airports to factories, mentioned the businesses.
- Advance environmental monitoring: They might present steady air high quality assessments, detect pollution, and assist sensible metropolis initiatives.
- Transform healthcare: As demand for providers surges due to growing older populations, the necessity for medical and caregiving staffers is rising. Ainos and ugo mentioned their robots might analyze VOC samples for early illness detection, assist an infection management in hospitals, and monitor aged care services for hygiene and well being dangers.
“By combining AI-powered scent detection with autonomous robotics, Ainos and ugo will help industries improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, and enhance workplace safety while addressing the global labor gap,” they mentioned.

Olfactory-enabled AI robots might serve a number of industrial use circumstances. Source: Ainos
Robot notion provided by way of a number of fashions
By integrating AI Nose into ugo’s robotic platform, the businesses mentioned they’re looking for potential income alternatives by numerous enterprise fashions:
- Technology licensing and {hardware} gross sales: Ainos will license AI Nose expertise to ugo, enabling ugo to supply premium olfaction-enabled robots.
- Robotics-as-a-service (RaaS): Businesses can deploy the robots by subscription-based fashions for steady air monitoring and security inspections.
- Cloud-based scent intelligence: AI Nose-generated knowledge can be built-in into cloud analytics platforms, providing insights for sensible factories, healthcare, and safety purposes.
- Maintenance and sensor optimization: Ongoing servicing, software program updates, and sensor calibration will guarantee long-term reliability and accuracy, mentioned the companions.
“As the world faces increasing challenges in workforce shortages, sustainability, and public safety, this partnership will contribute to a smarter, healthier, and safer future,” the businesses mentioned. “Ainos and ugo are committed to driving innovation that improves lives and supports industries in need of intelligent automation.”