© Toposens

The company awarded second place in the 'Industrial Automation' category by the Oberpfaffenhofen Application Center is Munich-based Toposens GmbH. The company has developed an innovative 3D sensor based on ultrasound technology. Similar to a bat's echo sounder, an ultrasonic signal is emitted and the transit times to the objects and back to the sensor are measured. The sensor can evaluate these signals in real time and combine them into a three-dimensional overall image. According to Toposens, the use of ultrasonic technology makes it possible for the first time to produce a system that is small, light, energy-efficient, precise and robust.