The world’s first 3D ultrasonic vision for robots, built to keep humans safe

Sonair ADAR
Sonair is a Norwegian DeepTech startup making robots safer to work alongside people with its flagship product ADAR, the world’s first safe 3D ultrasonic sensor. The technology gives machines a precise real-time view of their surroundings at a fraction of the cost of lidar.
Status
Active
Founded
2022
Hq
Oslo
INVESTMENT
2025
Vertical
Robotics
theme
DeepTech
co-investors
Investinor, RunwayFBU, SINTEF, Proventure, T|Y|R.vc

Why did we invest in Sonair?

As robots and machines enter workplaces and public spaces, ensuring safe interaction with humans is a key challenge. Current sensing technologies like cameras, LIDAR, and radar often fail in environments such as poor lighting, dust, or with transparent and shiny surfaces. They are also costly, complex to integrate, and slow down safety certification, creating barriers to adoption and raising safety risks.

This is where Sonair comes in, introducing a breakthrough with Acoustic Detection and Ranging (ADAR) – a compact ultrasonic sensor that delivers reliable 3D object detection and depth perception in environments where other solutions fail. A single ADAR unit can replace multiple sensors, reducing cost and complexity while enabling faster certification and safer interaction between humans and machines.

The robotics and automation market is entering a phase of rapid growth, with regulation across the EU, US, and Asia pushing for higher safety standards. Early pilots in logistics, healthcare, cleaning, and automotive have already shown strong results, with the first commercial agreements signed. Combined with a clear cost advantage, Sonair is well-positioned to become a key enabler of this transformation.

Behind Sonair is a team with decades of expertise in acoustics, MEMS, and software, led by a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits. With deep IP protection and the right mix of technical excellence and commercial drive, we believe Sonair has both the right people and the right timing to lead in this space.

"Sonair makes robot safety simple.
As robots become more common-place in our daily lives, safety becomes critical. By pushing the technical limits of sensing technology, Sonair has moved the robotics world several steps forward in a safe and cost-effective way. This is European DeepTech at its best."

Terkel Douglas
Investor @ Scale Capital

About Sonair

Sonair is a Norwegian DeepTech company founded in 2022, developing ADAR (Acoustic Detection and Ranging) – the world’s first 3D ultrasonic sensor. ADAR gives robots, drones, and industrial equipment omnidirectional 3D vision by “hearing” their surroundings, creating a virtual safety shield of up to five meters.

Sonair works with leading robotics and machine safety manufacturers. The company is engaged in pilots across logistics, healthcare, retail, cleaning, and automotive, with companies such as Fujitsu and CleanFix among its early partners.

The company was co-founded and led by Knut Sandven (CEO), a third-time founder, together with SINTEF researchers Ole Marius Rindal and Frode Tyholdt, the original inventors of the technology. Today Knut has built a strong leadership team including CTO Dag, VP Engineering Britta Fismen, CMO Tor, CCO Shermine, and Head of Finance & Strategy Gussi. By combining research depth with commercial execution, Sonair is working to establish ADAR as a core sensing technology across robotics, automotive, and industrial safety.

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