A quadruped robot, equipped with a mechanized arm, could well change the way air samples are taken in potentially dangerous situations.
A team of researchers has developed a system capable of collecting air samples in perilous environments, such as abandoned buildings or fire-affected areas. The robot, once the samples have been taken, transports them to an operator who analyzes them to detect possible dangerous compounds. This innovation, although still requiring improvement, is already showing its potential in extreme conditions.
A valuable tool for hazardous environments
Testing the air for hazardous chemicals in hazardous locations or after an accident, such as a fire, is an essential but perilous task for scientists and technicians. To protect humans, Bin Hu and his colleagues are developing mobile detection systems for hazardous gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by building remote-controlled sampling devices, such as aerial drones and small remote-controlled ships.
The latest addition to this mechanical menagerie is a quadrupedal robot with an articulated test arm mounted on its back. This independently controlled arm is equipped with three needle trapping devices (NTDs) capable of collecting air samples at any point during the robot’s ground mission.
Tests in real conditions
The researchers tested their “laboratory» on all fours in various inaccessible environments, including a waste treatment plant, sewage system, fuel fire ground, and chemical warehouse, to collect air samples for dangerous VOCs. Although the robot encountered navigation difficulties in rain and snow, it successfully collected air samples and brought them back to the portable mass spectrometer (MS) for on-site analysis in less time than It would be enough to transfer the samples to an external laboratory.
The researchers say the robot-MS system represents an approach “intelligent» and safer to detect potentially harmful compounds.
A bright future for security
Demonstrations show that this quadruped robot could become an essential tool for interventions in dangerous environments. By reducing human exposure to high-risk situations, this system could not only improve worker safety, but also speed up the detection and analysis processes for hazardous compounds.
Although improvements are still needed, especially for navigation in difficult weather conditions, the results achieved so far are encouraging. The development of such systems could transform the way interventions in hazardous environments are carried out, providing a safer and more effective solution for the detection of hazardous chemical compounds.
Illustration caption: This quadrupedal robotic air sampler can navigate potentially hazardous situations to test for dangerous volatile organic compounds. (Video credit: Bin Hu)
Article : “Portable Mass Spectrometry for On-site Detection of Hazardous Volatile Organic Compounds via Robotic Extractive Sampling” – DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01555
