Revolutionary Sonar Sensor Technology Aims to Enhance Robot Safety and Scale Up Adoption for Safer Human-Robot Interaction
In an era where robots are increasingly penetrating human spaces, safety becomes a paramount concern for robotics companies. Traditional methods of keeping robots segregated from humans are becoming obsolete, necessitating a shift in the approach to robot safety.
Oslo-based startup Sonair believes it has the solution: an acoustic detection and ranging (ADAR) sensor designed specifically for robots that uses high-frequency sound waves. This technology sends out ultrasound pulses and records the echoes, providing robots with a three-dimensional perception of their environment.
These sensors function as an extension to a robot’s existing cameras, enhancing its overall understanding of the surroundings. According to Knut Sandven, Sonair’s co-founder and CEO, “Perception for humans primarily relies on eyesight, but we also utilize other senses such as hearing and brain interpretation. The same applies to robots or autonomous machines. They use cameras for environmental understanding, but they’re not reliable under all circumstances.”
Sonair aims to bridge these gaps, particularly in depth perception. Traditionally, robotics companies have relied on LIDAR sensors, which emit light beams and measure their reflection, for such information. However, Sandven argues that Sonair’s sensors offer more comprehensive data due to their sound-based approach.
“LIDAR is akin to swiping a laser pointer,” Sandven explains, “while our sensor fills the space with sound.” The output of the sensor is standardized for easy integration with various robotic hardware and software.
Since its launch earlier this year, Sonair’s sensor has garnered significant interest from the robotics industry, with multiple companies planning to incorporate it into their future robot models. The company has also seen demand from the industrial safety sector, with businesses using the sensors to automatically shut down heavy machinery when humans enter restricted areas.
Recently, Sonair secured a $6 million investment round to accelerate its growth. Investors include Scale Capital, Norway’s state-backed Investinor, ProVenture, and others. Sandven states that these investors, particularly those active in the robotics industry, quickly grasped the problem Sonair aims to solve.
The rising concern for safety as robots start interacting more closely with humans parallels the early days of the self-driving car industry. Fady Saad, a general partner at Cybernetix Ventures (not an investor in Sonair), recently told TechCrunch that potential safety concerns could delay widespread adoption of humanoid robots in homes.
Sandven emphasizes that Sonair currently has no direct competition for its sonar-based sensors but expects this to change as more companies seek safety solutions for robots. “My vision is to have this technology integrated into all robots, just like cameras,” Sandven said, implying a promising future for the company’s innovation.
