Sonair has developed the patented ADAR sensor, a safe and cost-effective 3D ultrasonic sensor designed to improve safety and perception for autonomous robots operating around humans.

To support its global expansion, Sonair has raised $6 million from investors including Scale Capital, Investinor, RunwayFBU, SINTEF, and ProVenture, strengthening its financial and shareholder base.

The rising demand for warehouse automation, labor shortages, and safety regulations are fueling growth in robot-human collaboration markets, with Sonair’s sensors helping to reduce injury risks, especially highlighted by US warehouse injury statistics.

Sonair’s technological progress reassures investors about its potential to capture a growing global market in logistics, manufacturing, retail, and safety-critical applications.

Investors like Scale Capital, Investinor, and T|Y|R.vc have supported Sonair’s rapid transition from patents to commercial shipments, emphasizing the technology’s excellence and market potential.

Sonair’s ultrasound sensors offer a cost-effective alternative to LiDAR for 3D perception, with testing involving over 30 companies in logistics and manufacturing sectors.

The sensors provide accurate 3D perception at a fraction of the cost of LiDAR, making them attractive for autonomous mobile robots in logistics and manufacturing.

Major customers, including Fuji Corporation in Japan and a European cleaning robot manufacturer, have tested and validated the sensors’ high suitability for safe operation around humans.

Since their release earlier this year, Sonair’s sensors have gained strong demand from robotics companies and the industrial safety sector, and are compatible with existing hardware and software.

CEO Knut Sandven highlights that ADAR helps manufacturers meet high safety standards while enabling widespread robot adoption without hindering innovation.

Sandven believes Sonair’s ultrasonic sensors face little competition currently but expects increased rivalry as safety becomes a higher priority in robotics.

Unlike traditional LIDAR, Sonair’s ultrasonic sensors capture richer environmental data and are more affordable, improving object detection and navigation accuracy in various conditions.