Before an air quality sensor goes into a car, it has been tested both on the road and in the lab. In this video, we take you behind the scenes of air quality sensor testing at ScioSense in Reutlingen, Germany, where our team develops and produces metal-oxide (MOX) gas sensors.

What happens during air quality sensor testing on the road?

Our test vehicle collects live air quality data in the conditions a driver meets every day. It drives through city traffic, open roads and tunnels, where pollution levels can rise within seconds. These measurements show how a sensor responds to real changes in the air, which a lab alone can’t fully recreate. The data helps us fine-tune how our sensors detect pollution, so a vehicle’s climate system can respond in time (for example by switching to recirculation when the air outside gets worse).

How are MOX sensors made in our Reutlingen lab?

In the second part of the video, we move from the road to the lab. You see how our MOX sensors are produced and how each step is checked before a sensor leaves the building. A MOX sensor measures gases by detecting changes in the electrical resistance of a heated metal-oxide layer. We use this technology in our [ENS16x sensor family] for indoor air quality and in our automotive sensors. At the end of the video, our team demonstrates several air quality monitoring solutions in action.

Why does air quality matter?

According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is one of the largest environmental health risks worldwide. People spend much of their day indoors or in vehicles, so the air in those spaces affects their health directly. That’s why we carry out air quality sensor testing in real conditions: a sensor has to perform in the places people actually breathe. Would you like to know which sensor fits your application? Read more on our air quality sensors page or click here to contact our team.