Automated olfactory test system based on RFID technology

The olfactory sense is essential in daily life, especially for detecting hazardous odors. Several olfactory testing methods have been developed and applied successfully to clinical diagnosis. However, an automated olfactory test that would be completely self-administered, low-cost, and rapid would clearly be desirable. This study presents an automated olfactory cognition testing system that users can use independently from the start of the test to the final scoring. The main purpose of this study was to detect the transitions between the test steps, to identify odors with the radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, and to guide the test procedure and calculate the resulting scores using an embedded PC. The proposed system was prototyped and its RFID performance, which is an important issue for automation, was evaluated. The RFID read rate and received signal strength index were analyzed to show complete readability without interference under various spatial conditions, considering a spatial trajectory captured by an optoelectronic motion analysis system. In addition, its functional feasibility was confirmed using an odor identification test applied in two age groups. The proposed system is expected to be useful as a rapid, accurate, and low-cost olfactory test for mass screening.