The inference of odor source locations holds great potential value in chemical leak detection, explosive searches and flammable substance detection. Sensor response and derivative changes are common indicators used to estimate source distance. However, most studies often rely on single-feature methods using a single sensor. In this study, a novel distance indicator based on a spiking neural network (SNN) that integrates multiple sensors is proposed. SNN was introduced for effective multi-sensor data fusion, which can provide accurate and rapid source distance estimation. The indicator's accuracy and quick detection capabilities were tested using a publicly available wind tunnel dataset and compared with single-sensor indicators. Additionally, an olfactory robot platform was constructed to test the method's real-time performance. Results demonstrate that this method effectively utilizes sensor arrays to estimate source distance, with an average root mean square error (RMSE) of less than 0.1 m across different wind speeds, outperforming single-sensor-based indicators. Additionally, the model exhibits good distance estimation performance within a relatively short detection time, with an average RMSE of 0.118 m. Practical testing on a mobile robot platform confirms the applicability of this distance indicator for real-time distance monitoring. In conclusion, the proposed distance indicator enables effective distance estimation for odor sources, providing a promising method for odor source localization and olfactory navigation.
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