"Behold, the Dog Sensomatic Helmet! It will amplify Buford's senses to those of a dog." — Phineas[src] |
The Dog Sensomatic Helmet is a canine detector built by Phineas and Ferb to aid Isabella in the search for her missing pet.
History[]
Phineas, Ferb, Baljeet, and Buford are listening to a zombie apocalypse presentation by Gretchen. As Candace confronts them, a distraught Isabella hurries into the backyard, worried about the disappearance of her pet, Pinky. Wanting to help, the boys offer to use their artificial olfactory receptors to construct a dog radar, while Candace assures her that the chihuahua will return like their own platypus.
With the invention now complete, the boys put the hat in Buford's head, amplifying his senses akin to a canine. Testing it, he runs off at the smell of bacon, to everyone else's concern. Catching up to him, Isabella rubs his belly with Pinky's squeaky toy, passing the dog's scent onto the helmet. Buford quickly figures out the direction of the missing animal, but his thoughts are interrupted by the presence of a mailman.
At the City Hall, Buford confirms his suspicion of it being the hunt's destination. The kids chase him as he goes inside through the doggy door, eventually reaching the end of the smell's trail, only to find empty space. Confused, Buford takes off the helmet, which Phineas suggests may need to be adjusted. In the end, Pinky finishes his secret agent mission, appearing next to Candace, much to his owner's relief ("Where's Pinky?").
Design[]
The Dog Sensomatic Helmet is a grey dog-shaped hat with a light grey antenna on top, and parts emulating a light grey muzzle, a black nose, six dark grey whiskers, white partially visible teeth, two grey ears with lighter interior skin, two eye holes, and a red collar containing multiple orange dots.
Mechanics[]
The Dog Sensomatic Helmet is a canine detector based on the sense of smell of dogs. Taking their hightened olfactory receptors, the device enhances the user's own senses, allowing them to locate animals by replicating their behavior. The attached antenna expands the scope of the scent searching, likely permitting a scan of the whole town.
Background Information[]
- According to Phineas, he and Ferb had been planning to use the olfactory receptors for a milligram scale purification study.
- The word "Sensomatic" is a combination of "sensorial" and the suffix "o-matic".
- Phineas describes the helmet as a portable and positronic machine, referring to its movability and its electronic source, respectively. The latter term is an allusion to the positronic brain, a science fiction concept created by Isaac Asimov, serving as an analogue to human consciousness for robots.
- The invention is lowered onto Buford via a pulley machine piloted by Ferb.
- The first item to be smelled by Buford under the effects of the helmet is "the future", as stated by him.
- A side effect of the hat is a lower attention span, arising from dogs' innate curiosity of their surroundings.
- While Isabella rubs Buford, she plays with him by saying "who's a good boy? yes, you are!", a phrase usually employed to address pets.
- Unbeknownst to the kids, the reason they miss Pinky at the City Hall is due to Perry activating a background-blending device on himself and his partner, hiding them both from view so that their owners don't catch them in their agent modes.
- Leaving the helmet behind, Buford goes to the nearby Mr. Slushy Dawg to eat, remembering Candace's comment on there being an establishment at the prefecture.
- Following the invention's removal, it is taken by an eccentric tour guide, who runs away wearing it while carrying the deed to the Tri-State Area.
Appearances[]
- "Where's Pinky?" (First appearance)
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