Revolutionary 3D Vision: Sonair Mimics Dolphins, Bypassing LIDAR Trajectory
Sonair: Turning Ultrasound into 3D Robot Vision
When you think of ultrasound, you probably picture comfy doctor’s scans or the way submarines “talk” through water. But a plucky Norwegian startup has decided to throw a wrench into that mold. Sonair is turning those sound waves into a sleek, low‑energy way to give autonomous robots a pretty accurate 3‑D view of their surroundings.
Why Ultrasound? A Low‑Cost, High‑Impact Move
Unlike the pricey lidar systems that many robots rely on today, Sonair is using a unique approach that reads sound waves in air to spot people and objects. The magic? It does so with almost zero computational hassle and minimal power draw—ideal for devices that need to stay light and lean.
Funding & Focus: A Stepped‑Up Plan
Just recently, Sonair secured $6.8 million from early‑stage favorites Skyfall and RunwayFB—plus backers from its first round. With the money in hand, the company is rolling out early access to its tech, starting with autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that move stuff from point A to B inside warehouses.
- Cash flow for rapid prototyping.
- Free‑ride to real‑world testing.
- A springboard to broaden into other robotic categories.
- Long‑term eye on automotive applications.
Beyond the Robot Footprint
Founder and CEO Knut Sandven is believed to see Sonair as a stepping stone to multiple tech realms. Initially limiting the rollout to indoor environments keeps the team focused, but the vision is to have these sonic sensors one of the go‑to tools for all sorts of autonomous systems.
Backstory & Technical Roots
Before chopping up Sonair, Knut ran a company called GasSecure, which used MEMS—tiny mechanical and electrical dance moves—to detect gases. After a successful sale to an industrial safety firm, he dove into research from SINTEF, a partnership that spins university science into marketable tech. That journey paved the way for the air‑borne ultrasonic vision you see today.
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Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise.
Sonair’s Big Leap: From Lidar to Ultrasonic Heat‑Maps
In the lively streets of San Francisco, the next-gen twist on autonomous tech is in the air—no, not the ozone, but a wave of excitement around Sonair. Steve jobs of the lidar world? More like the Steve jobs of the sonic world.
What the Engineers Built
Back in 2024, the team at Sintef wrapped up an ultrasonic sensor that’s not just a fancy gadget— it’s a fully commercial‑ready MEMS marvel. One clever mind named Jon Sandven swooped in, snagged the IP, hauled the brilliant brains to his new crew, and Sonair was born.
Why Lidar’s Not the Only Ticket
Even though Lidar keeps rattling its way into cars and drones, it’s still the pricey workhorse that loves a sunny day, hates reflective surfaces, and gets distracted by every LED on the street. Enter Sonair’s rapid‑frequency waves, dropping the sensor bill by 50–80 %—that’s basically saying “Zzz, Yaaah” to the budget‑doubters.
How the Tech Works
- Beamforming – the same math that powers radar, but with a sonic twist.
- AI crunches the echoes, turning them into sharp, spot‑on spatial maps.
- Hardware 4‑in‑1 set‑up gives a 180° view and a 5‑meter reach, letting robots do most of the heavy lifting with fewer snappy sensors.
Beyond Robots: Handsets & Wearables?
Imagine your phone “feeling” a virtual push before you even touch. Sandven muses that the tech could “respond before a hand comes close” – essentially a faster, gentler, more precise version of those haptic feel‑and‑touch gadgets. He’s not ready to roll it out today, but the playground for this idea is ripe.
The Numbers That Make It Buzztastic
According to Sagar Chandna of RunwayFBU, 2024 will spawn 200,000 autonomous mobile robots, a market ballooning to $1.4 billion. That arena is ripe for Sonair’s less‑expensive brains to jump in.
Industry Buzz
Preben Songe‑Møller of Skyfall notes, “With cheaper sensors and smarter AI, from factories to hospitals, the ripple effect could be huge.”
Bottom line? Sonair is not just tweaking an old gizmo; it’s re‑thinking how machines detect, see, and understand their world—all while keeping the price tag in check. If you’ve ever dreamed of a tech that senses before it’s touched, Sonair is the sonic ticket you’re looking for.
