10.07.2024

With "SonoOne", the Fraunhofer Center for Sensor Intelligence ZSI has launched an ultrasonic sensor system that sets new standards in flexibility and cost efficiency thanks to its modular design. "SonoOne" opens up innovative possibilities for a wide range of applications, from medicine to industry.

Ultrasound technology is firmly established in numerous areas. Its advantages such as flexibility, cost efficiency, real-time capability and non-invasiveness make it a valuable tool in medicine and industry.

Image: Individual modules of the "SonoOne" ultrasound system placed on top of each other; Copyright: Fraunhofer IBMT

Thanks to its modular design, the "SonoOne" ultrasound system is extremely versatile.

Products and exhibitors on this topic

Exhibitors and products related to this topic can be found in the database of COMPAMED:

Further exciting articles from the COMPAMED-tradefair.com editorial team:

Ultrasound: versatile and proven, but often expensive

In the medical field, applications range from complex diagnostic systems to wearable devices. Despite the great potential in the end-user sector (wearables, m-health, smart health) and mass markets, ultrasound sensor technology often remains out of reach due to high costs.

For example, the market for medical wearables was worth USD 27.2 billion in 2021, while the market for blood flow measurement devices (based on ultrasound Doppler technology) only reached USD 533 million. There is enormous market potential for ultrasonic sensor technology in combination with automated signal analysis and AI-supported classifications, particularly in the low-cost area for IoT applications such as wearables.

SonoOne: Flexibility meets cost efficiency

"SonoOne" solves these challenges with an innovative modular principle. The system consists of cost-effective, matchbox-sized modules that can be easily connected together. These modules include:

Ultrasonic module: Captures ultrasonic time signals over a wide frequency range (kHz-MHz).
Communication module: Enables parameterization and control of the ultrasonic module as well as data transfer (e.g. via WLAN) to an end device or server for signal analysis.
Power supply module: Provides the required supply voltages.

The intelligence of the system lies in the analysis and evaluation of the recorded ultrasonic time signals. This can be carried out by an external computing unit (e.g. tablet, smartphone) or by a compact computing unit in the system itself (edge AI approach). Evaluation in cloud networks is also possible, so that large amounts of data from numerous sensors at different locations can be stored, analyzed and processed centrally.

Wide range of possible applications

"SonoOne" can be used for a wide range of applications. The system is suitable for both medical applications (ultrasound diagnostics, wearables, m-health, smart health) and industrial applications (measurement of flow velocities, distances, fill levels, material testing). In addition, "SonoOne" can be used in the areas of environment (pollutant measurement, water quality control) and safety (person detection, distance measurement, localization).

COMPAMED-tradefair.com; Source: Fraunhofer ZSI

More about the Fraunhofer ZSI at: www.zsi.fraunhofer.de/en