Aromyx is partnering with Rewired to develop technologies that will enable robots to smell things around them just like the average human can.
Aromyx makes something called the EssenceChip, which it describes as “the digital platform for measuring taste and scent”.
The company has agreed a strategic partnership with Rewired, the robotics-focused venture studio and fund based in London and Lausanne, Switzerland.
Aromyx and Rewired say they will work together to explore novel applications of taste and smell for smart robots.
Aromyx develops technologies that for the first time enable scientific, reproducible measurement and digitization of taste and scent.
These sensory capabilities have to date been limited by the complexity of replicating the olfactory system in a way that is both scalable and repeatable.
The first of its kind, Aromyx’s EssenceChip is a disposable biosensor that places the human taste and olfactory receptors into a biochip.
This technology is targeted for use by the food and beverage, flavor and fragrance, consumer packaged goods, chemical and agricultural industries.
Rewired invests in and helps develop machine perception technologies that will unlock the next generation of smart robotics.
The firm and studio focuses on the sensors, software, and systems that help autonomous machines interact with unpredictable environments and collaborate with humans.
Andy Hickl, venture partner at Rewired, says: “Our strategy at Rewired is to invest for the long term in core technologies that lay the foundation for smart robotics.
“The next generation of machines must be able to gather diverse data about their surroundings and holistically interpret that data in order to model the world and productively interact with it.
“Applying Aromyx’s technology to robotics will help us detect and capture new modalities of data, that will inform decision making in autonomous machines and inspire the development of new learning models.”
In support of the partnership, Rewired has also invested in Aromyx’s current round of funding.
Rewired’s investment is part of the first close of Aromyx’s multi-million dollar round.
In addition to its financial investment, Rewired will provide deep robotics and business expertise, provided by its world-class scientific advisors and general partners.
Chris Hanson, Aromyx founder and CEO, says: “Rewired’s investment and partnership will help us explore new applications for our technology, at a time when these sensing capabilities are in high-demand across multiple industries.
“Rewired’s expertise and focus on robotics is a huge asset in helping Aromyx become the nose and taste buds of a new generation of smart machines.”
