Inscentinel

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Inscentinel was a British firm based at Rothamsted Experimental Station in Hertfordshire. They specialise in the development of insect olfaction technologies [1] [2] for the detection of trace chemicals, specifically Hymenoptera training techniques and technologies.

Contents

History

Inscentinel was founded in 2000, and was a spin-out resulting from a joint venture project between Unilever [3] and Rothamsted Research. [4] The firm was backed with venture capital, [5] [6] funding from the British Government, and other investment.

Technology

Conventionally, detection of chemicals at low vapour pressures has been based on mass spectrometry, gas chromatography and the use of sniffer dogs. Insect olfaction is sensitive down to parts per trillion [7] and the use of insects to conduct searches for illegal drugs, and explosives [8] —particularly in security [9] applications such as demining—is envisaged. [10] The technology has been tested by QinetiQ for Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining. [11] Potential health uses are also reported, [12] such as for TB. [13] Inscentinel is a patent holder. [14] [15] The species of bee used is Apis mellifera . [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detection dog</span> Dog trained to detect certain substances

A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones. The sense most used by detection dogs is smell. Hunting dogs that search for game, and search and rescue dogs that work to find missing humans are generally not considered detection dogs but fit instead under their own categories. There is some overlap, as in the case of cadaver dogs, trained to search for human remains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demining</span> Process of removing land mines

Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing land mines from an area. In military operations, the object is to rapidly clear a path through a minefield, and this is often done with devices such as mine plows and blast waves. By contrast, the goal of humanitarian demining is to remove all of the landmines to a given depth and make the land safe for human use. Specially trained dogs are also used to narrow down the search and verify that an area is cleared. Mechanical devices such as flails and excavators are sometimes used to clear mines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Working animal</span> Domesticated animals for assisting people

A working animal is an animal, usually domesticated, that is kept by humans and trained to perform tasks instead of being slaughtered to harvest animal products. Some are used for their physical strength or for transportation, while others are service animals trained to execute certain specialized tasks. They may also be used for milking or herding. Some, at the end of their working lives, may also be used for meat or leather.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Explosive detection</span>

Explosive detection is a non-destructive inspection process to determine whether a container contains explosive material. Explosive detection is commonly used at airports, ports and for border control.

Machine olfaction is the automated simulation of the sense of smell. An emerging application in modern engineering, it involves the use of robots or other automated systems to analyze air-borne chemicals. Such an apparatus is often called an electronic nose or e-nose. The development of machine olfaction is complicated by the fact that e-nose devices to date have responded to a limited number of chemicals, whereas odors are produced by unique sets of odorant compounds. The technology, though still in the early stages of development, promises many applications, such as: quality control in food processing, detection and diagnosis in medicine, detection of drugs, explosives and other dangerous or illegal substances, disaster response, and environmental monitoring.

A mine clearance organization, or demining organization, is an organization involved in the removal of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) for military, humanitarian, or commercial reasons. Demining includes mine clearance, as well as surveying, mapping and marking of hazardous areas.

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Science for Peace and Security (SPS) is a NATO programme supporting non-military cooperation focused on scientific research, technological innovation and knowledge exchange. The SPS Programme in its current form was established in 2006, building on over 60 years of scientific cooperation at NATO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electronic nose</span> Electronic sensor for odor detection

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fido explosives detector</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">APOPO</span> NGO that trains landmine- and tuberculosis-sniffing rats

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Mandyam Veerambudi Srinivasan AM FRS, also known as "Srini", is an Australian bioengineer and neuroscientist who studies visual systems, particularly those of bees and birds.

Robotic sensing is a subarea of robotics science intended to provide sensing capabilities to robots. Robotic sensing provides robots with the ability to sense their environments and is typically used as feedback to enable robots to adjust their behavior based on sensed input. Robot sensing includes the ability to see, touch, hear and move and associated algorithms to process and make use of environmental feedback and sensory data. Robot sensing is important in applications such as vehicular automation, robotic prosthetics, and for industrial, medical, entertainment and educational robots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital scent technology</span> The study of smelling things through a computer

Digital scent technology is the engineering discipline dealing with olfactory representation. It is a technology to sense, transmit and receive scent-enabled digital media. The sensing part of this technology works by using olfactometers and electronic noses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hymenoptera training</span> Bees or wasps trained to detect dangerous substances

Sniffer bees or sniffer wasps are insects in the order Hymenoptera that can be trained to perform a variety of tasks to detect substances such as explosive materials or illegal drugs, as well as some human and plant diseases. The sensitivity of the olfactory senses of bees and wasps in particular have been shown to rival the abilities of sniffer dogs, though they can only be trained to detect a single scent each.

Cell CANARY is a recent technology that uses genetically engineered B cells to identify pathogens. Existing pathogen detection technologies include the Integrated Biological Detection System and the Joint Chemical Agent Detector.

Remote Air Sampling for Canine Olfaction or RASCO (sometimes RASCargO or -in the UK- REST is a technology for transport security.

Geraldine (Jeri) Wright is an insect neuroethologist in the United Kingdom. In 2018 she became the Professor of Comparative Physiology/Organismal Biology at the University of Oxford and in 2021 she was appointed Hope Professor of Zoology.

Juliet Osborne is an entomologist and ecologist in the UK. She is professor of applied ecology at the University of Exeter and she looks at the health of social insects and how they pollinate plants.

References

  1. ↑ "Inscentinel Ltd". USA Today Website. USA Today. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  2. ↑ "sniffer bees". CNet News. Cnet. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  3. ↑ "Pearson Matthews Research & Development". PMUK Website. PMUK. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "Companies associated with Rothamsted Research". Rothamsted Research Website. Rothamsted Research. Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  5. ↑ "OT3 Annual Statement" (PDF). Oxford Technology 3 Annual Statement. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  6. ↑ "Portfolio - Environmental Technologies". Midven Website. Midven. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  7. ↑ "Inscentinel Develops Bee-Based Sensor Device to Detect Explosives". AZO Sensors website. AZO sensors. April 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  8. ↑ "Sniffer bees set to snare suicide bombers". This is London Website. This Is London. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  9. ↑ "Inscentinel Honeybees Sniff For Explosives: Science Fiction in the NewsInscentinel Honeybees Sniff For Explosives: Science Fiction in the News". Science Profiles Website. Science Profiles. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  10. ↑ "Pre-Trial Assessment (PTA) of the Inscentinel system using bees for detection of explosives". GICHD Website. GICHD. Archived from the original on 12 January 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  11. ↑ "Bees Can Sniff Out Disease in Humans". Daily Express Website. Express Group Newspapers. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  12. ↑ "Null Hypothesis | News".
  13. ↑ "Detection of odors using insects". Justia Patents Website. Justia. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  14. ↑ "Insect Loading System". PatentStormUS. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  15. ↑ Khot, Anna (10 January 2010). "Humble Honey Bee Helping National Security". Naked Scientists Website. Naked Scientists. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
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