Sonair Unveils 3D Ultrasonic Sensor Aimed at Human-Cobot Safety

A single source reports that Norwegian sensor developer Sonair has launched what it describes as the world’s first safety-certified 3D ultrasonic sensor for human-robot collaboration. According to a trade feed post from Robotics & Automation News, this new acoustic sensor is designed to detect people and obstacles above and below the single flat plane of traditional 2D laser scanners.

While traditional 2D scanners are widely used to define safety perimeters for mobile robotic systems, they cannot detect objects outside their narrow horizontal slice of vision. If Sonair’s claims are accurate, this 3D ultrasonic technology could significantly improve the safety zones around “welders on a cart” and other collaborative setups. Improved spatial detection could allow operators to safely stand next to a cobot workspace to tack and fixture parts on the fly without triggering a complete system shutdown. However, because this is an initial product announcement from a single source, details on real-world durability in dusty, spark-heavy welding environments, integration costs, and exact safety ratings remain unconfirmed.