**ADAR One: Certified 3D Sensor Safety for Robots Using Sound Instead of Light**
The rapid advancement of robotics driven by AI has highlighted a critical gap in safety infrastructure. While robots are becoming significantly more capable, the systems designed to keep humans and machines safe in shared environments have not evolved at the same pace. Traditional 2D laser scanners, commonly used to define safety perimeters for mobile robots, have a fundamental limitation: they can only detect objects within a single plane. This blind spot means they cannot reliably identify people or obstacles that are above or below their designated field of view, creating potential safety risks in dynamic environments.
This limitation has made “safe perception” the primary bottleneck for enabling safe human-robot coexistence, rather than limitations in robot intelligence or speed. According to Knut Sandven, CEO of Sonair, ensuring with reliability that a human is nearby under any condition is the key challenge that must be addressed.
A new solution has emerged that directly addresses this challenge. ADAR One, a 3D spatial awareness sensor, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first 3D sensor to be independently certified for safety using sound instead of light. This certification validates its ability to reliably detect people and obstacles at all heights within an 180°×180° space. ADAR One complements traditional cameras and AI systems by providing a robust, fail-safe layer of perception that is not dependent on visual confirmation.
Designed for autonomous mobile robots and industrial automation, ADAR One offers comprehensive 3D spatial awareness and eliminates the blind spots inherent in 2D safety systems. Its compact design allows it to be integrated directly into almost any robot, including humanoid platforms, without requiring significant redesign.
The sensor represents more than an incremental upgrade; it introduces a certified 3D perceptual foundation that sits beneath existing camera and AI stacks. By independently verifying that the robot’s surroundings are safe, ADAR One provides a critical safety layer that current systems cannot match.
Since entering production and shipping with industrial robots, ADAR One has been rigorously tested and evaluated by more than 80 global robotics companies. For many in the industry, this level of certified safety has been a long-awaited development. Recently, beRobox, a leader in automated palletizing and de-palletizing solutions, announced an agreement to deploy ADAR One in future systems. This partnership brings certified 3D safety to one of the most demanding industrial automation applications, where machines and people work in close proximity.
David Demers, CEO of beRobox, emphasized that innovation at his company is about integrating the best available technologies to create safer, more efficient solutions. Partnering with Sonair allows beRobox to deliver advanced and user-friendly automation systems while maintaining the highest standards of safety.
**The Certification**
ADAR One was evaluated under the stringent IEC 61496 standard for electrosensitive protection devices, ensuring its suitability for human-robot collaboration. It also meets foundational safety requirements outlined in IEC 61508 and ISO 13849. These certifications confirm that ADAR One achieves SIL 2 (Safety Integrity Level 2) and PL d (Performance Level d), with a probability of dangerous failure below 1.5 x 10⁻⁷ per hour.
The sensor has received an EC type-examination certificate from exida, a notified authority under the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. This certification confirms that ADAR One fulfills all essential health and safety requirements. Importantly, ADAR One is also the first safety-certified embedded system built using Rust, a programming language specifically designed for performance, safety, and reliability.
**Implications for Robotics Stakeholders**
The availability of ADAR One offers several key benefits to different stakeholders in the robotics ecosystem:
– **Industrial Autonomous Robot OEMs:** 2D LiDAR systems have traditionally been the standard for safety, but they are costly and complex to implement. ADAR One enables robot manufacturers to incorporate certified 3D safety in a more effective and lower-cost solution, accelerating time to market.
– **Systems Integrators:** ADAR One can be deployed immediately in AMRs, AGVs, and collaborative robot systems without requiring special exemptions, simplifying integration and compliance.
– **Humanoid OEMs:** The compact form factor of ADAR One allows it to be embedded directly into humanoid robot bodies without major structural changes. It delivers the certified perception layer that camera and AI systems alone cannot provide.
– **End Users:** For warehouse and logistics providers, ADAR One enables the deployment of robots within certified safety architectures that are recognized by insurance and liability frameworks. This translates to improved productivity, reduced downtime, fewer incidents, and increased trust in robotic systems.
As Sandven noted, ADAR One was developed to serve as a drop-in, pre-certified safety layer that transforms a complex engineering challenge into a clear commercial advantage for all parties involved.
**Availability**
ADAR One, designed for SIL 2 and PL d compliance in autonomous robots and machine safety applications, is currently available.
**Original Article Source**
Sonair. “ADAR One: The First Certified 3D Sensor Using Sound for Robot Safety.” *Sonair*, [https://son.ai/adar-one-certified-3d-sensor](https://son.ai/adar-one-certified-3d-sensor).
