Array-to-array transfer of an artificial nose classifier

This paper describes the use of a microsphere sensor technology that allows simple fabrication of vapor sensor arrays with reproducible response patte rns. Microsphere sensor fabrication protocols are uncomplicated and yield b illions of highly reproducible sensors. Microsphere sensor arrays combined with a generalized Whitney-Mann-Wilcoxen (GWMW) classifier were used to dis criminate between the presence and absence of nitroaromatic compounds in hi gh background vapor mixtures. The classifier was trained on one sensor arra y and then used to obtain 98.2 and 93.7% correct classification rates with data collected using two subsequent arrays made up to six months after the initial training was performed. These results represent an advance in the a bility to transfer training data between multiple sensor arrays with a fluo rescence-based artificial nose.