Cleanfix is the first company to rely on the 3D ultrasound sensor ADAR from Sonair

(Copyright Cleanfix)

(Copyright Cleanfix)

(Copyright Cleanfix)

The Swiss manufacturer of professional cleaning systems Cleanfix is the first OEM partner to integrate the 3D ultrasonic sensor ADAR from the Norwegian company Sonair into the new generation of its autonomous cleaning robot RA660 Navi XL. The solution is designed for use in open and shared environments.

Autonomous cleaning robots are increasingly part of regular operations today – often unattended, at night, and in areas also used by humans. They encounter changing conditions: limited visibility, moisture, dust, as well as small or ground-level obstacles in their path.

Against this background, Cleanfix has specifically further developed the perception systems of the RA660 Navi XL. A central component is the 3D ultrasonic sensor ADAR, which enables reliable obstacle detection even under conditions that are challenging for optical or laser-based sensor systems.

“Our customers do not evaluate algorithms, but results,” says Roger Kaiser, Head of Robotics at Cleanfix. “Stable operation, minimal interruptions, and a system that works reliably for hours are crucial. This is exactly where ADAR comes in – as a prerequisite to make autonomous cleaning scalable in everyday life.”

“For Sonair, this integration is an important step towards broader application of 3D ultrasound in robotics,” adds Knut Sandven, CEO of Sonair. “Service robotics is one of the fastest-growing areas of automation. At the same time, these systems are increasingly working in environments shared with humans instead of isolated industrial facilities. In such scenarios, robust environment perception is essential for reliable and predictable operation.”

Reduced sensor technology through 3D ultrasound instead of individual sensors

With ADAR, Cleanfix replaces multiple linear ultrasonic sensors with a central 3D sensor unit. By bundling these into a single sensor, system complexity and the number of components are significantly reduced.

This directly impacts integration and operation: The 3D ultrasonic sensor provides spatial environment data that supports navigation and movement behavior in real time. As a result, the robot reliably detects small or partially concealed obstacles at ground level – such as bags, pallet edges, or tools, which are common in practice.

Data protection is also considered systemically: Since no imaging data is recorded or stored, the robot can be used in sensitive environments.

High availability through low-maintenance sensors and stable operation

Since the RA660 Navi XL does not rely on optical sensor systems with sensitive lenses, regular cleaning is unnecessary. This minimizes downtime and service effort, increasing availability during daily operation.

Furthermore, false interpretations (“false positives”), such as caused by dust particles, occur much less frequently. As a result, the RA660 Navi XL operates more evenly and with fewer interruptions, directly impacting productivity and area coverage.

The operation is independent of ambient light, making it suitable for use at night or in poorly lit areas.

Outlook: Safety certification for 3D ultrasound

In the future, the safety-oriented use of the technology is also gaining importance: Sonair is currently working on a safety certification according to PL d (ISO 13849) / SIL (IEC 61508). This represents an important step for the use of 3D ultrasonic sensors in safety-critical applications and addresses the increasing requirements for autonomous systems in shared environments.

This integration into the cleaning robot RA660 Navi XL marks a first step in the industrial application of Sonair’s 3D ultrasound technology.