Ainos and ugo develop service robots with a sense of smell

Ainos and ugo have partnered to give a sense of smell to service robots. Source: Ainos

Not only are robots getting smarter, but they are also becoming more perceptive, thanks to advances in artificial intelligence and new sensors. Ainos Inc. last week announced a strategic partnership with ugo Inc. to integrate its AI Nose technology with ugo’s autonomous robot.

The companies said the collaboration marks a milestone in the digitization of the sense of smell and will provide new capabilities for robots in industrial safety, healthcare, and public security.

“This partnership will be a defining moment in our journey to digitize smell,” said 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 technology detects VOCs

San Diego, Calif.-based Ainos said it develops medical and healthcare systems based on its its proprietary AI Nose and VELDONA technologies. The name “Ainos” combines “AI” and “Nose” to signify the company‘s commitment to enabling AI with the ability to smell and individuals to live healthier.

Its clinical-stage product pipeline includes telehealth-friendly point-of-care testing (POCT) systems powered by AI Nose, VELDONA human and animal oral therapeutics, and human orphan drugs.

AI Nose, originally developed for medical diagnostics, mimics human olfaction by detecting and analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Backed by nearly a decade of research and a strong patent portfolio, the sensor has already demonstrated its effectiveness in healthcare and industrial environments, according to the company.

In Japanese semiconductor manufacturing facilities, AI Nose has successfully identified 22 different VOCs with nearly 80% accuracy. This demonstrates its potential to enhance real-time safety monitoring and environmental analysis, said Ainos.

Other efforts to give robots a sense of smell include research at Tel Aviv University, TAST-E, and Scentience.ai.

ugo robots smell commercial opportunities

Founded in 2018, ugo said it combines the advantages of remote-controlled robots and fully automated robots for operations tailored to each customer site. “ugo” is the Tokyo-based company‘s next-generation avatar robot designed to collaborate with people and digitally transform business.

“Olfaction is the next frontier in robotics,” stated Ken Matsui, representative 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 robot company by market share, according to Fuji Keizai Group’s “2024 Edition: Current Status and Future Prospects of the Worldwide Robot-Related Market – Service Robot Edition” published on Jan. 15, 2024.

Partners work to realize smarter robots

“Until now, robots have relied primarily on vision, sound, and touch to perceive their surroundings,” said Ainos. “Smell has remained an unsolved technological challenge — but Ainos is about to change that.”

Ainos and ugo laid out steps in their plan to bring robots with AI-powered olfaction from concept to reality:

• Technology integration and prototyping: The partners said they will merge AI Nose with ugo robots and conduct initial performance testing.
• Real-world pilot deployments: The companies will validate their jointly developed system in industries such as semiconductor manufacturing and public safety.
• AI optimization and performance enhancement: They plan to refine system performance and AI models based on real-world data.
• Global gommercialization and market expansion: Ainos and ugo said they will scale the deployment of AI Nose-enabled robots worldwide.

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Ainos and ugo list use cases

Not only can robots with olfactory perception provide commercial value, asserted Ainos and ugo, but they could also address labor shortages in critical industries worldwide. The companies said their systems could:

• Enhance industrial safety: Robots with a sense of smell could be designed to relieve human workers of hazardous inspections, freeing people to focus on high-value tasks. They could detect gas leaks, identify toxic chemicals, and prevent equipment failures in semiconductor, chemical, and manufacturing plants.
• Strengthen public safety: The integrated systems could assist security patrols by detecting explosives, narcotics, and hazardous substances in transportation hubs and critical infrastructure. AI Nose-integrated robots could provide continuous, automated surveillance in sites ranging from airports to factories, said the companies.
• Advance environmental monitoring: They could provide continuous air quality assessments, detect pollutants, and support smart city initiatives.
• Transform healthcare: As demand for services surges because of aging populations, the need for medical and caregiving staffers is growing. Ainos and ugo said their robots could analyze VOC samples for early disease detection, support infection control in hospitals, and monitor elderly care facilities for hygiene and health risks.

“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 said.

Olfactory-enabled AI robots could serve multiple industrial use cases. Source: Ainos

Robot perception offered via multiple models

By integrating AI Nose into ugo’s robotic platform, the companies said they are seeking potential revenue opportunities through various business models:

• Technology licensing and hardware sales: Ainos will license AI Nose technology to ugo, enabling ugo to offer premium olfaction-enabled robots.
• Robotics-as-a-service (RaaS): Businesses can deploy the robots through subscription-based models for continuous air monitoring and safety inspections.
• Cloud-based scent intelligence: AI Nose-generated data will be integrated into cloud analytics platforms, offering insights for smart factories, healthcare, and security applications.
• Maintenance and sensor optimization: Ongoing servicing, software updates, and sensor calibration will ensure long-term reliability and accuracy, said the partners.

“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 companies said. “Ainos and ugo are committed to driving innovation that improves lives and supports industries in need of intelligent automation.”

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