Norwegian tech company Sonair has reached a significant milestone, raising a total of $6.8 million in funding, including $1.6 million from a recent round led by Skyfall Ventures. The company is set to launch its global early access program for its breakthrough 3D ultrasonic sensor technology, known as ADAR (Acoustic Detection and Ranging), which is expected to revolutionize the autonomous mobile robot (AMR) industry.
Revolutionizing the AMR Industry with 3D Ultrasonic Sensing
With the AMR industry growing at an impressive rate of 27% year-over-year, there is an increasing demand for sensors that ensure robots can safely navigate around people and obstacles. Current 2D LiDAR systems, which dominate the market, are costly, power-intensive, and limited to a single horizontal plane, often detecting only parts of objects like a person’s legs. In contrast, Sonair’s ADAR technology introduces 3D spatial awareness using ultrasound waves in the air, drastically improving obstacle detection while reducing energy consumption and computational load.
“ADAR is an enabling technology for the entire mobile robot sector,” said Knut Sandven, CEO of Sonair. “For mobile robot builders, ADAR provides massive cost savings that can be passed on to end-users, helping to accelerate automation adoption across industries.”
Significant Backing from Investors
Sonair’s latest funding round saw participation from key investors, including Skyfall Ventures and RunwayFBU. The funds will be used to further develop the technology and bring it to market, starting with an evaluation kit for early access partners.
Preben Songe-Møller, Partner at Skyfall Ventures, praised the Sonair team for their expertise, stating, “Their deep knowledge in sensor technology, robotics, and AI positions them to drive transformative changes across sectors like manufacturing and healthcare by improving efficiency and safety.”
Sagar Chandna of RunwayFBU highlighted the importance of reducing sensor costs in the growing AMR market, which is expected to produce 200,000 units in 2024, representing a $1.4 billion market. “Sonair’s innovations have the potential to resolve one of the biggest cost challenges in the industry and unlock further growth.”
Ultrasonic Sensors Outperform Traditional Technology
Unlike traditional sensors, which can be impacted by environmental conditions such as poor lighting, dust, and changing temperatures, Sonair’s ultrasonic technology excels in diverse environments. It can detect reflective or transparent surfaces, like glass and mirrors, which often pose challenges for LiDAR systems.
Sonair’s groundbreaking technology was recently recognized at the international Sensors Converge event in Santa Clara, California, where it won the 2024 Best of Sensors Award in the Automotive & Autonomous Sensor category.
Global Early Access Program for AMR Manufacturers
Sonair is launching a global early access program, offering an evaluation kit to partners across various industries, including warehouse AMR manufacturers, automotive OEMs, and health and cleaning robotics companies. This early access gives companies a chance to integrate Sonair’s advanced technology into their systems, gaining a competitive advantage in the fast-evolving world of automation.
“Early access partners will have a first-mover advantage with a breakthrough sensing technology that addresses society’s urgent need for safe human-robot interaction in a cluttered world,” said Sandven.
Two Decades of Research and Development
Sonair’s ADAR technology has been in development for over 20 years at Norway’s MiNaLab, a renowned sensor and nanotechnology research center. The system relies on beamforming, a method commonly used in sonar and radar, which is also employed in medical ultrasound imaging.
By using wavelength-matched transducers along with advanced software for beamforming and object recognition, Sonair’s sensor can detect distance and direction to objects within a 180×180-degree field of view and up to a 5-meter range. This is a significant improvement over existing technologies, offering a broader detection range and a more comprehensive 3D view of the environment, including obstacles above and below the traditional 2D plane.
The Future of Robotics with Sonair
Sonair’s sensor technology simplifies the overall complexity of AMRs by reducing the need for multiple sensors that attempt to compensate for the limitations of existing systems. The company’s vision extends beyond industrial applications, with plans to explore markets for service robots, delivery robots, and robotic arms.
“Our technology is where AI, machine learning, and automation converge,” Sandven remarked. “We envision a future where humans and robots coexist seamlessly, guided by ultra-compact 3D ultrasonic sensors.”
