A Nigerian Invents A Computer That Can Smell Explosives

A COMPUTER THAT CAN SMELL EXPLOSIVES

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A Nigerian Inventor, OSHIORENOYA AGABI, based in Silicon-valley (California), USA, has invented a computer that can detect bombs through the smell of explosives, thereby aiding bomb detection.

Mr. Oshi Agabi unveiled a computer that is based on mice neurons and not on silicon, in Tanzania, at the T.E.D. Global Conference.

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Image Credit

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The system has been reportedly trained to be able to recognize the smell of explosives. The invention aims to replace the traditional airport visible security system, and will in turn allow people to just walk on to planes freely.

The amazing modem-sized system named Koniku Kore, is a system made from the combination of living neurons and silicon. It possesses sensors capable of detecting and recognizing smells and has the potential to provide a brain for future robots.

Some experts, have however said that making mass production of such a system would be challenging.

Companies like Google, Microsoft and all other big technological firms have over the years been rushing up the creation of artificial intelligence modelled and based on the human brain.

Although computers are much faster and better than the human brain at complex mathematical equations, there are however, many cognitive areas and functions wherein the human brain is much better. Also, training a computer system or device to be able to recognize smells would certainly require a gigantic amount of computational energy and power.

Mr Agabi reversed-engineered biology for the device, and accomplished the function with a fraction of the power it would normally take a silicon-based processor.

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Koniku Kore

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According to the inventor, Mr Agabi…

“Biology is technology. Bio is tech. Our deep learning networks are all copying the brain.”

The device is also able to detect illnesses in people, by sensing markers or signals of a disease from the air molecules that the particular patient release when exhaling.

Mr Agabi said…

“This device can live on a desk and we can keep them alive for a couple of months. We think that the processing power that is going to run the robots of the future will be synthetic biology-based and we are laying the foundations for that today.”

A prototype of the device was displayed at the TED Conference via a video, where it was taken out of the laboratory.

Mr Oshi Agabi’s company, Koniku, is a start-up company that has raised $1 million ((£800,000) in funding and was launched about a year ago.

According to him the company is now making profits in upwards of $10 million and its customers include pharmaceutical and aviation industries.

Prof John Donoghue of the Wyss Centre in Geneva, who has been at the forefront of the concept of allowing people with paralysis to use their brain waves to move limbs, stated that Mr Agabi’s idea and project was interesting.

Prof Donoghue says…

"Digital computers are fast and reliable but dumb, whereas neurons are slow but smart, but they are not so good in a little dish and the big problem will be keeping them alive and happy. That is going to be a big challenge."

When the inventor, Mr Oshi Agabi was asked by the BBC on his opinion of other scientists who are developing silicon chips to mimic the way neurons work, and which could prove to be more stable, Mr Agabi responded by saying that the idea of mimicking silicon is very complicated and hard, and he doesn’t believe it would scale through.

Mr Agabi stated that he is not convinced about such systems winning over his own tech.

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Whatever the debate on the technology might be and its efficacy in terms of carrying out its functions, it is safe to say that a device that can help detect bombs and explosives through smell is going to be a game-changer. Such a device would help reduce the spate of terrorist bombings and targeted explosions by improving and taking security to the next level.

And the pristine honour of such an invention goes to a Nigerian, Mr Oshiorenoya Agabi, a brilliant mind spear-heading such advanced level of bio-engineering.

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_{Image Credit}

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Another Nigerian at the center of bio-technological revolution. Amazing times for the great people, and great nation of Nigeria.

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