The idea of applying the sense of smell to robotics arose
from the need for an objective, quantifiable method to locate
and identify odors in potentially hazardous areas. In recent
years, advances in electronics, sensors and computing have
made the manufacturing of compact electronic nose devices
possible, and particularly suitable for integration onto
platforms such as mobile robots or intelligent appliances [10].
To date, most applications for olfaction on robotic platforms
have focused on the use of gas sensors in mobile robotics for
the investigation of odor based navigation strategies.
Applications of these platforms include: trail following, plume
tracking and odor source localization [10]. The integration of a
complex odor recognition component with today’s and
tomorrow’s robotics offers a growing number of potential
applications.