Abstract

Artificial olfaction systems have been analyzed since many years but only recently we are facing advances able to enlarge their horizons. Even if the performances of natural olfaction are of course superior with respect to the artificial one, the potentialities of the latter as innovative, non invasive and objective measure instrument are enormous. Electronic nose has indeed the ambition of resolving the interpretative ambiguity of the chemical signal giving a numerical, objective, output obtained via a non-invasive approach. This approach represents a great opportunity for diagnostic purpose. So far, existing technology, did not reach a breakthrough. This paper introduces new directions as suggestions for further developments oriented to enlarge olfaction strategy taking into account aspects related to new trends in informatics and electronics.