EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R37982/01
Title: Adaptive Neuromorphic Analogue VLSI Chips for Integrated Odour Sensing
Principal Investigator: Hamilton, Dr A
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Cornell University ETH Zurich Osmetech
Department: Sch of Engineering
Organisation: University of Edinburgh
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 21 January 2002 Ends: 20 July 2005 Value (£): 173,640
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Bioelectronic Devices Biomedical neuroscience
Digital Signal Processing VLSI Design
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Electronics
Environment Healthcare
Related Grants:
GR/R37968/01 GR/R37975/01
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
This research proposal aims to combine recent advances in the understanding of biological olfactory systems with novel integrated silicon chemical microsensors and neuromorphic analogue VLSI to produce, for the first time, a low power, fully integrated electronic nose for adaptive odour sensing. The research is a collaboration between three Universities; the novel integrated silicon microsensor array will be developed at Warwick University, the neuromorphic model at Leicester University and the analogue VLSI at Edinburgh University. If successful, the work will lead to a new generation of low-cost, smart palm-top e-noses suitable for various applications, e.g. healthcare, environmental monitoring and food safety.The commercial aspects of this project are particularly timely. Most existing electronic nose systems are bench-bound instruments that suffer from limited sensitivity and sensor drift, requiring frequent recalibration. The current annual market is estimated at lOMEuro, mainly in the food, beverage and perfumery industries. Future market opportunities are only possible by creating new markets, in particular medical/environmental, which would revolutionise the commercial viability of this technology. These markets require far more advanced chemical sensing technology than currently available but are estimated at over 500MEuro (F.T., 1999). As such there is an urgent requirement for portable, low-cost, reliable e-noses.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.ed.ac.uk