Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 5 hrs ago
Ohio State researchers develop a system to transmit smells online
Researchers at Ohio State University developed a system to send smells over the internet using two connected devices.
An AI-assisted electronic nose identifies an aroma, then sends data to a scent generator called Scentronic, which releases the matching smell.
The system has been tested with five scents: orange, cake, coffee, beer and red wine.
Scentronic comes in wearable and handheld designs, and volunteers were able to identify smells it recreated.
The researchers say the technology could make online shopping and virtual worlds more immersive, and could help doctors assess changes in patients’ sense of smell.
The team hopes to recreate more complex aromas, while further applications could include making meals more appealing for soldiers or astronauts.
Ohio State University researchers developed an AI-assisted system that detects smells and transmits scent data over the internet for a device to recreate.
The system pairs an electronic nose with a scent generator called Scentronic, which releases scents from liquid containers using atomisers.
It was tested with five scents: orange, cake, coffee, beer and red wine.
Reports differ on the test results: CNET says 16 people accurately identified all five scents, while New Scientist says 14 volunteers identified the smells 73 per cent of the time on average.
The researchers say potential uses include immersive virtual worlds, remote scent sharing and health applications.
- Who
- Researchers at Ohio State University, including lead author Chunyu Yang.
- What
- They developed Scentronic, a system that detects smells and transmits scent data for a device to recreate.
- When
- The study was released on Wednesday; the articles were published on October 21, 2026.
- Where
- Ohio State University; scent data is transmitted over the internet.
- Why
- The researchers aim to enable scent sharing and immersive virtual experiences, with possible entertainment and health applications.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers trained an AI algorithm to recognise signals from five scents using an electronic nose.
The system sent scent data to Scentronic, which released the corresponding smells for volunteers to identify.
The study describing the system was released.
- Institution
- Ohio State University
- System
- Scentronic
- Scents tested
- Orange, cake, coffee, beer and red wine
- CNET test result
- 16 people accurately identified all five scents
- New Scientist test result
- 14 volunteers identified scents 73 per cent of the time on average
- Transmission method
- Internet connection and scent data sent to a scent-generation device
3 sources
What people are saying
One exciting potential application is remote scent sharing
still a very undeveloped sense