Sensors Group at the University of Rome "Tor Vergata"
The sensors group at the University of Rome Tor Vergata is a research initiative, active since 1989, collecting researchers at the Department of Electronic Engineering and at the Department of Chemical Sciences and Technology.
The sensor group was initiated in 1989 when Prof. Arnaldo D’Amico moved from the University of L’Aquila to the Department of Electronic Engineering of the University of Rome Tor Vergata where he took the chair of Electronics devices.
In 1994 the group of the late prof. Tristano Boschi, at the Department of chemical science and technology joint his efforts with the scope of developing innovative materials for chemical sensors and to design and applicate sensor systems to several practical applications. Currently, Prof. Roberto Paolesse leads the chemical branch of the group.
As the major outcomes of the researches carried out there is the development and application of artificial olfaction and taste systems. An electronic nose participated to the ENEIDE space mission (april 2005) and has been successfully tested on the International Space Stations. Among the electronic nose applications is worth to mention the studies devoted to the diagnosis of several cancer forms such as those affecting lungs and skin.
In 2007 a further offspring of the group activities has been the foundation of Ecosens a spin-off company devoted to the market oriented exploitation of the sensor group research findings.