An odor compass for localizing an odor source

An odor-source localization system has been developed that mimics animal behavior. The directional probe is called an active sampling probe, and was modeled on the behavior of the silkworm moth. It was extended to an odor compass which continuously points towards the direction of the odor source, using a small fan and two semiconductor gas sensors. The probe was rotated, and the direction where two sensor signals were balanced was obtained. After improvement of the algorithm for estimating that direction, the direction estimation was rapidly and accurately performed.