Oslo, Norway-based Sonair has successfully raised $6 million in a funding round aimed at scaling its Acoustic Detection and Ranging (ADAR) sensor technology, which the company states is designed to enhance safety and perception for autonomous robots. The investment round included contributions from new and returning investors such as Scale Capital, Norway's state-backed Investinor, and ProVenture.
The company's ADAR sensor utilizes high-frequency sound, specifically ultrasound waves, to generate a three-dimensional view of a robot's surroundings by capturing how sound echoes. This acoustic data is intended to supplement existing robot sensors and cameras, providing operating systems with a more comprehensive environmental picture. Sonair co-founder and CEO Knut Sandven indicated that while cameras are effective for environmental understanding, they may not reliably detect objects under all conditions, and ADAR aims to address these perceptual gaps, particularly concerning depth.
Sonair positions its ADAR technology as an alternative to traditional LIDAR sensors, which rely on light beams to measure distances. Sandven stated that ADAR sensors can capture more comprehensive data, drawing an analogy: "LIDAR is like swiping a laser pointer," whereas "if you shout out in a room, you will fill the room with sound. We will fill the room with sound." The sensor's output is structured in a standard industry format, designed for integration across various robotic hardware and software platforms.
Since its release earlier this year, Sonair has reported strong demand within the robotics sector, with multiple companies reportedly planning to incorporate the sensors into their upcoming robot models. The technology has also garnered interest from the industrial safety sector, where companies are utilizing the sensors to detect human presence in hazardous zones containing heavy machinery, facilitating automatic shutdowns to prevent accidents.
Investors in the robotics space have reportedly recognized the problem Sonair aims to solve, aligning with broader industry discussions around safety as robots increasingly integrate into human environments. Fady Saad, a general partner at robotics-focused Cybernetix Ventures, an entity not invested in Sonair, has previously highlighted safety concerns as a significant hurdle for widespread adoption of humanoid robots in domestic settings. Sandven expressed an ambition for Sonair's technology to become as ubiquitous in robots as cameras are today, while acknowledging that direct competition for sonar-based sensors could emerge.
