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

Portable mass spectrometry for on-site detection of hazardous volatile organic compounds via robotic extractive sampling

12-Jun-2024
Computer-generated image

Symbolic image

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 ACS’ Analytical Chemistry. While the system needs further refinement, demonstrations show its potential value in dangerous conditions.

Adapted from Analytical Chemistry 2024, DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01555

This quadruped robotic air sampler can navigate through fire and other potentially dangerous situations to test for hazardous volatile organic compounds.

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 volatile organic compounds (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.

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 air samples 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 robot-MS system represents a “smart” and safer approach for detecting potentially harmful compounds.

Original publication

Other news from the department science

These products might interest you

isoprime precisION

isoprime precisION by Elementar Analysensysteme

isoprime precisION stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer

The most flexible, yet powerful isotope ratio mass spectrometer ever created

IR mass spectrometers
HPR-20 OEMS, Online Electrochemical Mass Spectrometer

HPR-20 OEMS, Online Electrochemical Mass Spectrometer by Hiden Analytical

Online monitoring and quantification of evolved gases and vapours from electrochemical processes

A complete gas analysis solution, designed to integrate seamlessly with electrochemical applications

IonTamer ToF MS

IonTamer ToF MS by Spacetek Technology

IonTamer instruments are time-of-flight residual gas analysers (TOF-RGA) for the analysis of gases

Compact Time-of-flight residual gas analyzer (TOF-RGA) for process analysis

Residual gas analyzers
PlasmaQuant MS Elite

PlasmaQuant MS Elite by Analytik Jena

LC-ICP-MS Is the Key to the World of Elemental Species

Highest Sensitivity and Lowest Detection Limits with PlasmaQuant MS Series and PQ LC

HPR-20 R&D

HPR-20 R&D by Hiden Analytical

A specialist benchtop triple filter mass spectrometer for the monitoring of evolved gases & vapours

Providing improved resolution & abundance sensitivity with an ultimate detection limit of 5 ppb sub

quadrupole mass spectrometers
CATLAB Catalysis and Thermal Analysis

CATLAB Catalysis and Thermal Analysis by Hiden Analytical

A system for catalyst characterisation, kinetic and thermodynamic measurements

Integrated Microreactor-Mass Spectrometer for Reaction Testing, TPD/R/O and Pulse Chemisorption.

mass spectrometers
BIOS ANALYTIQUE - Soluciones de Renting y Leasing para laboratorios

BIOS ANALYTIQUE - Soluciones de Renting y Leasing para laboratorios by Bios Analytique

Specialists in the rental and leasing of scientific equipment for laboratories throughout Europe

Whether you have an unexpected requirement or limited budget, we have the perfect solution for you

lab equipment
NexION® 5000

NexION® 5000 by PerkinElmer

NexION 5000 Multi-Quadrupole ICP Mass Spectrometer

NexION 5000 Multi-Quadrupole ICP Mass Spectrometer

ICP mass spectrometers
Xevo TQ Absolute

Xevo TQ Absolute by Waters

A new Tandem Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer for Quantification with Absolute power

Absolute performance, efficiency, productivity, and confidence for your most challenging compounds

mass spectrometers
iCAP RQ single Quadrupole ICP-MS

iCAP RQ single Quadrupole ICP-MS by Thermo Fisher Scientific

Robust ICP-MS with ease of use and high productivity for routine analysis

A complete multi-element analysis solution for your high-throughput routine laboratory

ICP mass spectrometers
iCAP TQ Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS

iCAP TQ Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS by Thermo Fisher Scientific

Overcome unexpected interferences, reduce detection limits and improve data quality

Ultralow limits of detection with simplicity - even for the most challenging analytical applications

ICP mass spectrometers
JEOL JMS-T2000GC AccuTOF GC-Alpha Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer

JEOL JMS-T2000GC AccuTOF GC-Alpha Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer by JEOL

A new era of mass spectrometry for your fast forward daily lab routine:
Welcome JEOL AccuTOF GC-Alpha

Stop wrong hypotheses and uneconomic loops! Precise data without compromise is now.

TOF mass spectrometers
expression® Compact Mass Spectrometer

expression® Compact Mass Spectrometer by Advion Interchim Scientific

Mass Spectrometry for Chemists: Fast, Easy, Prep-Free Reaction Monitoring at the Bench

Featuring a variety of sample introduction techniques that also allow TLC/MS & direct probe analysis

mass spectrometers
Orbitrap Exploris GC Mass Spectrometer

Orbitrap Exploris GC Mass Spectrometer by Thermo Fisher Scientific

Orbitrap Exploris GC-MS simplifies operations and offers new opportunities for analytical testing

Keep pace with changing demands, maximize system uptime, and expand laboratory capability.

orbitrap mass spectrometers
Thermo Scientific TSQ Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry Systems

Thermo Scientific TSQ Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry Systems by Thermo Fisher Scientific

Confident quantitation with triple quadrupole LC-MS systems

Mass Spectrometry Systems

triple quadrupole mass spectrometers
TSQ 9610 GC-MS/MS

TSQ 9610 GC-MS/MS by Thermo Fisher Scientific

TSQ 9610 GC-MS/MS for superb sensitivity and selectivity with outstanding reliable productivity

Eliminate unnecessary, unplanned instrument downtime, save helium and maximize productivity

triple quadrupole mass spectrometers
Loading...

Most read news

More news from our other portals

All FT-IR spectrometer manufacturers at a glance

See the theme worlds for related content

Topic World Spectroscopy

Investigation with spectroscopy gives us unique insights into the composition and structure of materials. From UV-Vis spectroscopy to infrared and Raman spectroscopy to fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopy, spectroscopy offers us a wide range of analytical techniques to precisely characterize substances. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of spectroscopy!

70+ products
40+ whitepaper
60+ brochures
View topic world
Topic World Spectroscopy

Topic World Spectroscopy

Investigation with spectroscopy gives us unique insights into the composition and structure of materials. From UV-Vis spectroscopy to infrared and Raman spectroscopy to fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopy, spectroscopy offers us a wide range of analytical techniques to precisely characterize substances. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of spectroscopy!

70+ products
40+ whitepaper
60+ brochures