This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

peer-reviewed publication

trusted source

proofread

Four-legged, dog-like robot 'sniffs' hazardous gases in inaccessible environments

Four-legged, dog-like robot 'sniffs' hazardous gases in inaccessible environments
This quadruped robotic air sampler can navigate through fire and other potentially dangerous situations to test for hazardous volatile organic compounds. Credit: Adapted from Analytical Chemistry 2024, DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01555

Nightmare material or truly man's best friend? A team of researchers equipped a dog-like quadruped robot with a mechanized arm that takes air samples from potentially treacherous situations, such as an abandoned building or fire. The robot dog walks samples to a person who screens them for potentially hazardous compounds, says the team that published its study in Analytical Chemistry. While the system needs further refinement, demonstrations show its potential value in dangerous conditions.

Testing the air for dangerous chemicals in risky workplaces or after an accident, such as a fire, is an important but very dangerous task for scientists and technicians. To keep humans out of harm's way, Bin Hu and colleagues are developing mobile detection systems for hazardous gases and (VOCs) by building remote-controlled sampling devices like aerial drones and tiny remotely operated ships.

The team's latest entry into this mechanical menagerie is a dog-like robot with an articulated testing arm mounted on its back. The independently controlled arm is loaded with three needle trap devices (NTDs) that can collect air samples at any point during the robot's terrestrial mission.

This quadruped robotic air sampler can navigate through potentially dangerous situations to test for hazardous volatile organic compounds. Credit: Bin Hu

The researchers test-drove their four-legged "lab" through a variety of inaccessible environments, including a garbage disposal plant, sewer system, gasoline fireground and chemical warehouse, to sample the air for hazardous VOCs. While the robot had trouble navigating effectively in rainy and snowy weather, it collected and returned them to the portable mass spectrometer (MS) for onsite analysis in less time than it would take to transfer the samples to an off-site laboratory—and without putting a technician in a dangerous environment.

The researchers say the -MS system represents a "smart" and safer approach for detecting potentially harmful compounds.

More information: Ximeng Liu et al, Portable Mass Spectrometry for On-site Detection of Hazardous Volatile Organic Compounds via Robotic Extractive Sampling, Analytical Chemistry (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01555

Journal information: Analytical Chemistry
Citation: Four-legged, dog-like robot 'sniffs' hazardous gases in inaccessible environments (2024, June 10) retrieved 18 June 2024 from https://techxplore.com/news/2024-06-legged-dog-robot-hazardous-gases.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Water-based paints: Less stinky, but some still contain potentially hazardous chemicals

64 shares

Feedback to editors