Detection

Airborne detection. Not just surface swabs.

 

Full CBRNE detection. On legs.

SnifBot integrates narcotics, explosives, radiation, chemical, and biological detection onto the X-Pro reconfigurable mobile robot.

One platform. Multiple threats. Layered sensors for screening, confirmation, and identification.

 

How It Works

1. The robot moves to the target
Containers, vehicles, parcels, luggage, buildings, or hazardous zones. The X-Pro's All-Terrain and Omni-Directional modes position the sensor precisely — without turning, without disturbing the scene.

2. The sensor samples the target
Depending on the module:

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

3. Detection in seconds
Results in 2–10 seconds for most modules. Radiation spectroscopy identifies nuclides in under 1 second. Chemical sensors respond in real time.

4. Alert, log, and map
Audible, visual, or silent/covert alerts. Timestamped digital logs. Real-time 3D mapping and dose-rate visualization.

 

Detection Technologies

IMS — Ion Mobility Spectrometry

  • Fast (2–10 seconds)
  • Proven in airports and borders worldwide
  • Detects trace particles and vapors
  • Sensitivity: nanogram (ng) to picogram (pg)
  • Narcotics: cocaine, heroin, meth, MDMA, ketamine, fentanyl, morphine, LSD, pethidine, ephedrine
  • Explosives: TNT, DNT, RDX, PETN, NG, BP, Tetryl, HMX, AN

Mass Spectrometry (portable)

  • High specificity — fewer false positives
  • Vapor-mode capable
  • Strong for fentanyl and low-vapor-pressure drugs
  • Higher cost, heavier payload

E-Nose Arrays

  • Lightweight, low power
  • Wide-area VOC screening
  • Trainable on target odors
  • Best paired with IMS or mass spec for confirmation

Raman Spectroscopy

  • Point-and-shoot identification of substances
  • Works through plastic, glass, and some packaging
  • Excellent for confirming suspect powders, parcels, and surfaces
  • Best as a second-stage tool after IMS or mass spec alerts

Radiation Detection

  • NaI(Tl) scintillator, 4096-channel spectroscopy
  • Detects gamma, beta, and neutron radiation
  • Radionuclide identification in under 1 second
  • Dose rate measurement and mapping
  • Mountable on robot dog (Argus) or drone (SWIFT)
  • Weight: 2.3–4 kg depending on configuration

Chemical Detection

  • Semiconductor + MEMS + electrochemical sensors
  • Detects: ammonia, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxygen, chlorine, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, phosphine, ethylene oxide, ozone, combustible gases
  • Warfare agents: Sarin, VX, Mustard Gas, Hydrogen Cyanide, Phosgene
  • Sensitivity: 0.01–1 ppm
  • Weight: ~0.5 kg

Biological Detection

  • CANARY technology (Cellular Analysis and Notification of Antigen Risks and Yields)
  • Aerosol sampler for air sampling
  • Detects: anthrax, ricin, botulinum toxin, plague, tularemia, smallpox, airborne SARS-CoV-2
  • Rapid on-site identification

Robotic Sampling Arm

  • Remote collection of soil, water, and surface wipes
  • Sealed preservation for lab analysis
  • Integrates with robot dog platform

 

What We Detect

Narcotics

  • Cocaine (COC)
  • Heroin (HER)
  • Methamphetamine (MET)
  • Fentanyl and analogs
  • MDMA / ecstasy
  • Ketamine (KET)
  • Morphine (MOP)
  • LSD
  • Pethidine
  • Ephedrine
  • And others — libraries can often be expanded

Explosives

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

Radiological & Nuclear

  • Gamma, beta, and neutron radiation
  • Radionuclide identification
  • Dose rate mapping
  • Special Nuclear Material (SNM) detection

Chemical Threats

  • Industrial chemicals
  • Chemical warfare agents (Sarin, VX, Mustard, HCN, Phosgene)
  • Toxic industrial gases
  • VOCs

Biological Threats

  • Anthrax, ricin, botulinum toxin
  • Plague, tularemia, smallpox
  • Airborne pathogens

 

Detection Modes

Trace mode
Swab or aspiration of surfaces — for parcels, luggage, vehicles, and containers.

Vapor mode
Air sampling for airborne detection — for enclosed spaces, containers, and close-range source location.

Standoff / wide-area
E-nose arrays for screening large areas — then confirm with IMS or mass spec.

Identification mode
Raman point-and-shoot for confirming suspect substances — powders, parcels, surfaces.

Radiation mapping
Real-time dose rate mapping and radionuclide identification — for nuclear facilities, border screening, and emergency response.

Chemical monitoring
Continuous gas detection — for industrial sites, chemical plants, and CBRNE incidents.

Bio-aerosol sampling
Air sampling for biological threats — for transit hubs, events, and public health.

Remote sampling
Robotic arm collects soil, water, and surface wipes for lab confirmation.

 

Platform Integration

Detection modules are integrated onto the X-Pro — a reconfigurable mobile robot with up to 200 kg payload and three mobility modes.

Payload includes sensors, air pump, pre-concentrator, robotic arm, onboard compute, and communications — all matched to the platform's power and runtime.

Multiple modules can run simultaneously for layered detection. One platform, multiple threats.

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

 

Ground Station Software

Our unified ground station integrates data from all sensors:

  • Real-time control and display — robot position, imagery, and sensor data
  • Integrated analysis — storage, management, and reporting
  • 3D mapping — dose rate, contamination, and threat visualization
  • Multi-platform support — robot dog, drone, vehicle, fixed
  • Autonomous modes — patrol, search, traceability, waypoint
  • Data fusion — radiation, chemical, biological, and narcotics on one screen

 

Alerts & Data

  • Audible — for open environments
  • Visual — screen or LED indicator
  • Silent / covert — for prisons, events, sensitive operations
  • Logging — timestamped results for reporting and chain of custody
  • Integration — USB, WiFi, Ethernet, APIs/SDKs
  • Storage — onboard data logging for review and evidence

 

Limitations (Honest)

We believe in being clear:

  • Most narcotics have low vapor pressure — detection works best at close range (centimeters to a few meters)
  • Environmental conditions matter — temperature, humidity, and airflow affect performance
  • No sensor is perfect — false positives and negatives exist; confirmation via lab or second sensor is recommended
  • Standoff detection is still emerging — true remote detection at distance is not yet commercially mature
  • Raman needs a sample in the laser path — it identifies substances, but doesn't sniff air
  • Biological detection requires aerosol sampling — it detects airborne threats, not surface contamination

We design around these realities — close-range positioning, multiple sensors, and confirmation workflows.

 

Not Sure Which Sensor Fits?

Tell us your target substances, environment, and budget. We'll recommend the right detection module and X-Pro configuration.

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

Request a Demo →

Information icon

We hebben je toestemming nodig om de vertalingen te laden

Om de inhoud van de website te vertalen gebruiken we een externe dienstverlener, die mogelijk gegevens over je activiteiten verzamelt. Lees het privacybeleid van de dienst en accepteer dit, om de vertalingen te bekijken.