Ainos, a leader in AI-powered odor digitization, announced the successful integration of its proprietary AI Nose olfactory module into a humanoid robot developed by ugo, Inc., a top-tier Japanese service robotics company. Completed on April 9, 2025, this installation marks the world's first functional olfactory-equipped robot, ushering in a new era for robotics, artificial intelligence, and human-robot interaction.
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Ainos' AI Nose system integrates a high-precision array of gas sensors, real-time signal processing, and advanced AI algorithms to digitize various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or odors, identifying them as unique "odor IDs." These "odor IDs" enable the detection of smells and environmental conditions in a manner similar to human olfaction. This installation represents the first application of this technology to a commercially available humanoid robot platform and its deployment in real-world scenarios.
ugo, Japan's leading service robotics company, deploys its products widely in commercial buildings, security patrols, and facility automation. This collaboration combines ugo's leadership in robotics engineering with Ainos' advanced sensory AI technology, resulting in a new type of intelligent robot capable of environmental perception not only through vision and hearing but also through smell.
Ainos' Chairman, President, and CEO, Junxian Cai, stated that the collaboration with ugo to create the world's first robot with a sense of smell is a turning point for AI sensing technology, poised to revolutionize healthcare, industry, and daily life. Mr. Ken Matsui, CEO of ugo, added that olfaction has been a missing key element in robotic perception, and the integration of AI Nose will fundamentally change how robots navigate and interact in the real world, representing a significant leap forward in service robotics. Cai further emphasized that the swift completion of the installation, just over a month after the partnership announcement, demonstrates Ainos' commitment to leading odor digitization and expanding the sensory intelligence of robots.