According to Sifted, Norwegian startup Sonair has developed ultrasonic sensor technology inspired by how bats navigate, using sound waves to create 3D positioning information for robots. The 22-person company raised $6 million in September from investors including Skyfall Ventures, RunwayFBU, SINTEF Venture VI, and Danish VC Scale. Sonair currently has over 40 paying robotics customers across the US, Europe, and Asia testing their $2,000 devices. CEO Knut Sandven says they’re specifically targeting humanoid robot makers and autonomous mobile robots used in logistics and warehouses. The technology aims to solve one of robotics’ biggest bottlenecks: reliable perception and distance measurement. Sonair has opened offices in both Oslo and Denmark’s robotics hub Odense, with Germany identified as their next major market.
The humanoid safety problem nobody’s talking about
Here’s the thing about humanoid robots: they look impressive doing backflips in demo videos, but they’re basically clumsy giants that can’t safely navigate around people yet. Sandven straight up says “no humanoid can do that today, even if the manufacturers say so.” And he’s got a point – these things are heavy, and when they misjudge distances, they could literally fall on someone. That’s why Sonair’s timing seems pretty smart. With humanoid companies raising $3.2 billion this year alone (more than the previous six years combined), everyone’s rushing to build these things, but safety remains the elephant in the room.
Why this actually matters beyond the hype
Look, we’ve all seen those viral videos of robots folding laundry or making coffee. But the real test is whether they can operate independently without causing damage. Take 1X’s Neo humanoid – it weighs 30kg, which is lighter than others, but users describe it as “slow and clumsy” that needs radio control for complex tasks. That’s where Sonair’s tech comes in. Basically, they’re giving robots the spatial awareness that’s been missing. And in industrial settings where companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com provide the computing backbone for manufacturing automation, reliable sensor technology becomes absolutely critical. You can’t have robots bumping into expensive equipment or, worse, people.
What’s actually realistic here?
So can Sonair really make humanoids safe enough for our homes? Well, they’re being smart about their approach – they’re not trying to retrofit existing robots but working with companies building the next generation. They’ve got paying customers already, which is more than many robotics startups can say. The European focus makes sense too, with Germany’s massive industrial market being their next target before expanding to the US. But let’s be real: making robots that can safely navigate dynamic human environments is incredibly hard. Sonair’s bat-inspired sensors might be part of the solution, but they’re definitely not the whole answer. Still, with $6 million in funding and real customers, they’ve got a fighting chance to become the eyes and ears of the next robot revolution.
