Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 1 October 2026

Answers to common questions about SnifBot, CBRNE detection, and X-Pro integration. Can't find what you're looking for? Contact us.

1. What is SnifBot?

SnifBot integrates CBRNE detection sensors — for narcotics, explosives, radiation, chemical, and biological threats — onto the X-Pro, a reconfigurable mobile robot platform. The robot carries the sensor; the sensor does the detecting. We focus on customs, border security, prisons, airports, ports, and hazardous environments. Based in The Netherlands, serving Europe.

2. How does detection work?

Depending on the threat and sensor, detection may involve:

Air sampling — for vapor, gas, and aerosol detection
Surface swab — for trace particles
Non-contact aspiration — for close-range detection
Point-and-shoot — for substance identification
Radiation spectroscopy — for radionuclide identification

The robot positions the sensor close to the source — containers, vehicles, parcels, or enclosed spaces — where concentration is highest.

3. Which narcotics can SnifBot detect?

Detection depends on the sensor module chosen. Typical targets include:

Cocaine
Heroin
Methamphetamine
Fentanyl and analogs
MDMA / ecstasy
Ketamine
Morphine
LSD
Pethidine
Ephedrine

The exact list depends on the sensor manufacturer's library, which can often be expanded.

4. Can SnifBot detect explosives?

Yes. Depending on the sensor, SnifBot can detect:

TNT, DNT, RDX, PETN
NG, BP, Tetryl
HMX
Semtex, AN
Peroxides and homemade explosives

5. Can SnifBot detect radiation?

Yes. Our radiation detection modules use NaI(Tl) scintillators with 4096-channel spectroscopy to:

Detect gamma, beta, and neutron radiation
Identify radionuclides in under 1 second
Measure and map dose rates
Detect Special Nuclear Material (SNM)

The detector weighs 2.3–4 kg depending on configuration and can be mounted on the X-Pro robot dog or a drone.

6. Can SnifBot detect chemical threats?

Yes. Our chemical detectors use semiconductor + MEMS + electrochemical sensors to detect:

Industrial gases — ammonia, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, chlorine, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, phosphine, ethylene oxide, ozone, combustible gases
Warfare agents — Sarin, VX, Mustard Gas, Hydrogen Cyanide, Phosgene

Sensitivity ranges from 0.01 to 1 ppm depending on the sensor type. The module weighs approximately 0.5 kg.

7. Can SnifBot detect biological threats?

Yes. Our biological detection uses CANARY technology (Cellular Analysis and Notification of Antigen Risks and Yields) with an aerosol sampler to detect:

Anthrax
Ricin
Botulinum toxin
Plague
Tularemia
Smallpox
Airborne SARS-CoV-2

It provides rapid, on-site identification and can operate indoors or outdoors.

8. Can SnifBot collect samples for lab analysis?

Yes. We offer a robotic sampling arm that remotely collects:

Soil samples
Water samples
Surface wipes

Samples are sealed and preserved for laboratory confirmation — keeping operators out of hazardous zones.

9. Which robot platform does SnifBot use?

Our core platform is the X-Pro — a reconfigurable mobile robot from VIU Tech (Tianjin, China), with up to 200 kg payload and three mobility modes (Cruise, All-Terrain, Omni-Directional).

The X-Pro is uniquely suited to CBRNE detection: it carries multiple sensors, positions them precisely, and handles complex terrain — without compromising stability.

Other robot platforms are available on request for specific customer requirements.

10. Why the X-Pro for CBRNE detection?

The X-Pro is the only platform we've found that combines everything CBRNE detection needs:

Up to 200 kg payload — enough for multiple sensors, air pumps, pre-concentrators, robotic arm, and onboard compute
Three mobility modes — Cruise for flat ground, All-Terrain for stairs and slopes, Omni-Directional for precise positioning near targets
Composite active suspension — stability while carrying heavy payloads
Unlimited-rotation joints — 360° movement for flexible sensor aiming
Built for real environments — ports, borders, industrial sites, hazardous zones

No other platform we've evaluated combines all of these.

11. Can multiple sensors run at the same time?

Yes. The X-Pro's 200 kg payload capacity allows multiple detection modules to run simultaneously — for example:

IMS (narcotics + explosives)
Radiation detector
Chemical detector
Biological detector
Robotic sampling arm

All data is fused into a single ground station for unified command and control.

12. How close does the robot need to be to the source?

For most current sensors, detection works best at close range — typically centimeters to a few meters. This is because most narcotics have low vapor pressure and disperse quickly in open air.

The X-Pro's Omni-Directional Mode allows precise positioning without turning, which is ideal for close-range aspiration near containers, vehicles, and parcels.

13. Is SnifBot available in Europe?

Yes. SnifBot is based in The Netherlands and serves customers across Europe. We work with robot and sensor manufacturers worldwide — including VIU Tech and Zytekno in China — to deliver integrated solutions for European security teams.

14. How much does a SnifBot system cost?

Pricing depends on:

Sensor modules selected (narcotics, explosives, radiation, chemical, biological)
Integration and software
Support and training

A complete system typically ranges from €50,000 to €250,000+. Contact us for a quote tailored to your needs.

15. Can SnifBot be integrated with existing security systems?

Yes. Our systems support:

Data interfaces — USB, WiFi, Ethernet
APIs/SDKs — for command-and-control integration
Alert formats — audible, visual, silent/covert
Logging — for reporting and chain of custody

We can work with your existing security infrastructure.

16. Do you offer demos or trials?

Yes. We offer:

Remote demonstrations — live walkthrough of the system
On-site demos — for qualified organizations
Pilot programs — short-term evaluation deployments

17. Can SnifBot replace a K-9 unit?

No — and we don't claim to. Real dogs remain excellent at odor detection and plume tracking. SnifBot is designed to complement K-9 teams by:

Operating in environments unsafe for dogs
Working longer without rest
Carrying heavier sensor payloads
Providing digital logs and alerts

The best results often come from combining both.

18. Who is VIU Tech?

VIU Tech is our core robot platform partner, based in Tianjin, China. They have 80 employees, 2 laboratories, 3 R&D centers, and 300+ patents, with a core team from Tsinghua University. Their partners and clients include China Mobile, Microsoft, and State Grid.

Our focus is the X-Pro — VIU Tech's flagship reconfigurable mobile robot, with up to 200 kg payload and three mobility modes. It's the platform we've chosen for CBRNE detection integration.

19. Who is Zytekno?

Zytekno is our detection technology partner, based in Tianjin, China. Their team includes experts from AXINT, CNRS, and ILM in France, with publications in leading scientific journals and collaborations with CEA, ANDRA, and KAERI.

They provide our IMS, radiation, chemical, and biological detection modules — along with the ground station software that fuses all sensor data into one platform.

20. How do I get started?

Your use case (customs, prison, border, port, hazmat, nuclear, etc.)
Your environment
Your target threats
Your budget range
Any timeline

We'll recommend a configuration and arrange a demo.

Still Have Questions?

📧 info@snifbot.com
📱 WhatsApp: +31 6 2044 7198 (text only)
🌐 snifbot.com

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