Robots Sniffing COVID

 Interesting robot sensor approach to COVID detection.

Startup bets on new coronavirus testing alternative: COVID-sniffing robots

By: Bloomberg - 02 Oct, 2020

Startup bets on new coronavirus testing alternative: COVID-sniffing robots

A biotechnology startup called Koniku is trying to develop robots that could sniff out Covid-19 infections faster than conventional testing.

The technology fuses neurons with a silicon chip to create a “smell cyborg" capable of detecting scents ranging from explosives to pathogens.

Koniku’s first clinical trial began three weeks ago and will examine samples from patients tested for Covid-19 to compare how well the smell-bot detects the virus compared with traditional methods. Small internal trials have already demonstrated that it can accurately detect the presence of influenza A.

“Our goal is to have a device that merges synthetic biology with silicon and maps all of the smells of human life on a global scale," said Oshiorenoya Agabi, the San Rafael, California-based company’s chief executive officer and co-founder. “We should have a device in every home in America to screen for disease."  .... '

Sniffing the Virus?

See also sensory systems in https://koniku.com/technology for how this could work.

What happens when airports open back up?
Published on May 4, 2020
Osh. Agabi
Founder & CEO Koniku Inc. - @onikuo
We’re partnering with Airbus to ensure safety and security in airports.

Several states are loosening shelter-in-place orders in the next couple of weeks, signalling a possible return to some aspects of normalcy. If—and that’s a big if—more restrictions are loosened and people begin to go back to doing some of their day-to-day traveling, we need to have protective systems in place to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. 

Airports, when they eventually open back up to commercial flying, will need to implement new processes and security measures to screen passengers for the virus. This is why we are extending our partnership with Airbus, a global leader in aeronautics with expertise in sensor integration and security operations within the aviation and defense industries.

As we announcing tomorrow morning and already reported by the Financial Times, Koniku & Airbus have been working since 2017 to develop a contactless and automated biotechnology solution to detect, track, and locate chemicals or explosives on board aircraft or in airports. We are now adapting our development activities to include the detection and identification of biological hazards including pathogens such as the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 with encouraging signals as of today. COVID 19 is a warning shot and it cannot be business as usual.  ... "