New Robot Sense: Space Perception via sound
Sonair’s ultrasonic technology adds sound-powered 3D spatial awareness to robot perception. Moving beyond the prototype phase, the technology is now in production.
Sonair, an ultrasonic 3D sensing technology company, introduced its ADAR sensor to the North American market at MODEX 2026.
The ADAR sensor allows autonomous machines to perceive their surroundings using sound rather than light. While traditional robots often rely on flat, two-dimensional sensing for safety purposes, ADAR enables three-dimensional spatial awareness.
Built on patented technology developed at the SINTEF research institute in Norway, ADAR uses MEMS-based transducer arrays to detect people and objects in real time. This sound-powered vision provides a new sensing layer for short-range distance measurements.
Beyond Optical Perception
Unlike optical sensors, ADAR’s ultrasonic sensing is not affected by lighting conditions, reflective surfaces, or dust-filled environments, which frequently cause issues for camera- or laser-based technologies in warehouses and factories. The ADAR sensor features:
- 180° × 180° field of view: Provides total spatial awareness to eliminate blind spots.
- Enhanced operational uptime: By detecting obstacles at various heights and reducing false positives from environmental factors, the sensor minimizes unnecessary stops.
- Safe human-robot interaction: Designed for dynamic environments where humans and autonomous mobile robots share space.
- Privacy-first operation in secure environments: By avoiding camera-based or optical sensor systems, ADAR enables autonomous robots to operate in areas such as military facilities or sensitive commercial sites, where the use of cameras is restricted or prohibited.
First Job: Floor Cleaning
Swiss manufacturer Cleanfix recently integrated the ADAR system into its RA660 Navi XL autonomous floor-cleaning robot (pictured above). This deployment marks a milestone for 3D ultrasonic sensing in real-world conditions.