Roboscientific is leading the field providing non-invasive detection of diseases and infestation in a range of living organisms.  It has developed the next generation of sensors and sensor arrays combined with fast accurate analysis using the company's bespoke sensors and proprietary software.  We use Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) to assess the condition of the animal, flock of birds, or crop that  is being monitored.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are the smells given off by every living being – when its conditions changes, so does its smell.  By constantly monitoring the odour given off by that item, we can assess when its condition changes – and by analysing the type and combination of VOCs that we can sense, we can identify the reason for the change.

The RoboScientific family of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Analysers use sensor arrays which have been designed to recognise specific digital fingerprints.  Each array consists of sensors that individually respond to specific odours (the VOCs) to produce an unique response pattern. Complex pattern recognition algorithms are then used to classify, identify, and quantify, the vapours or odours being sampled. This process is not dissimilar to the way a human nose produces diagnostic patterns that the brain recognises.

RoboScientific is currently manufacturing and developing a range of instruments and accessories to meet a variety of applications designed to help farmers improve quallity and yields, whilst reducing waste.

Just as a dog’s sensitive nose can tell when the fridge door is opened from another room, we can sense when  a disease begins to occur in a flock of chickens, a cow, or a barn full of potatoes or onions.

Initial trials indicate we can detect when a Covid infected person is in a room such as a classroom, aeroplane cabin, or care home lounge or bedroom.  The initial development work is well underway to adapt our agricultural solutions to met the challenge that is Covid-19.  Working with Prof. James Logan and his team at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, we achieved 100% Sensitivity and Specificity looking for Covid-19 in samples of clothing worn by people, some of whom were infected by Covid and others who were not.

The indications are that we can detect Covid-19 in real-time with more speed and accuracy than PCR - the current Gold Standard for testing for the disease.  Development plans are well underway to produce a Covid Air Sampling Device to monitor indoor spaces for the presence of anyone infected with the disease as well as an individual test.  Both tests will give results in real-time from an automated device using samples of air or breath.  

The RoboScientific technology is based on a range of proprietary sensors which respond to different groups of VOCs by changing characteristics in a range of measured dimensions.  In this way, we identify the VOCs that are created by the symptoms of the disease we are looking for.

 We believe our latest generation of sensors and analysers deliver leading edge sensitivity, specificity and consistency; delivering real-time results in minutes monitoring rooms to see if anyone in there is carrying the live virus.

RoboScientific has developed a fast, efficient method of targetting suitable organic semiconductor candidates, which  respond to specific VOCs.

We have a programme of research projects that continue to stretch the envelope of knowledge and increase the effectiveness of the monitoring systems we are developing.   In addition to developing a Monitor to Detect Covidd-19 automatically, applications for our technology are currently focused on agriculture, targeting the health status of livestock and in the growing, packaging and storage of fruit and vegetables.

We are also able to demonstrate accurate measurements relating to infection and contamination in both live animals, and grown food products. In addition, we can provide accurate monitoring and process control of manufacturing activities as diverse as the production of bread; drinks and paints. 

We have already completed a number of successful feasibility studies and field trials in the agriculture arena and these are now being developed into new practical applications on the farm. The challenge taking this technology out of the laboratory and onto the farm with its range of environmental challenges and relatively unskilled operators has helped refine the design brief and prototypes are about to be trialled.

Given the challenges ranging from unacceptably high levels of food wastage and disease risks from campylobacter in chickens African Swine Fever in pigs; our aim is to help our farmers produce more safer, better quality food at the same time as helping to reduce waste.

We are now focusing our expertise on completing Non-invasive Automative Real-Time Covid Room Air Monitors and individual Covid Breath Test to detect when a person infected with the live Covid-19 virus is in the space.  This will alert managers of the space and enable them to target individual testing at groups where the Covid-19 virus is present.  Automatically producing results in real-time - within minutes.