PE-CDT student develops pollution sensor and app OpenSense

Imperial College students Max Grell (PE-CDT Cohort 7), Michael Kasimatis and Giandrin Barandun developed a cheap, disposable stick-on polution sensor.

A postage stamp-sized paper air sensor stuck on the back of a smartphone could help Londoners gather vital data in the fight against air pollution. A team of PhD students from Imperial College has developed OpenSense, a cheap sticker that can measure deadly airborne exhaust gases. The paper has a pollution-sensitive sensor inside and is stuck on the back of a smartphone, which powers it.

This research was featured in the London Evening Standard. The sensor technology has been picked up by a spin-out company.

Max Grell, one of the students who developed the sensor, says, "It's very exciting when your research targets real problems and can then be applied in the world. Newspaper coverage has been a bonus and resulted in many interesting people getting in touch!"

See the website, BlakBear.com, for more info!

The students are also in the final of Imperial's Venture Catalyst Challenge on Thursday 23rd March.