One Sensor, Multiple Capabilities: AUDIOWELL’s 300KHz Ultrasonic Sensor Empowers Commercial Cleaning
Release Time：2026-09-10 Reads：14
When a cleaning robot operates on floors of different materials, it needs to know “what is beneath its wheels.” When it approaches a step or a low platform, it needs to know “whether it can proceed ahead.” And when it travels along a curb, it also needs to determine “whether the curb should be cleaned.” These three distinct perception requirements can be simultaneously met by a single AUDIOWELL 300KHz ultrasonic sensor.
300KHz High-Frequency Acoustic Waves: The Physical Foundation for Precise Perception
AUDIOWELL’s high-frequency ultrasonic sensor emits 300KHz ultrasonic waves and uses specially formulated coupling materials to transmit the waves into the air for high-precision short-range detection. Compared to conventional ultrasonic sensors operating at 40kHz–200kHz, the 300KHz wavelength is significantly smaller than the surface structural features of common flooring materials, enabling more sensitive capture of differences in acoustic responses from various materials.
Based on the Time-of-Flight (TOF) measurement principle—which involves emitting ultrasonic pulses and recording the time difference between transmission and reception of echoes—the sensor analyzes in real time the intensity, phase, and attenuation characteristics of the echo signals. Different flooring materials exhibit markedly different reflection and absorption properties toward ultrasonic waves: the greater the acoustic impedance mismatch, the stronger the reflection; conversely, weaker reflection means most energy is absorbed or transmitted by the material. The built in algorithm compares the echo signatures against preset acoustic fingerprints of materials, thereby accurately distinguishing different floor types.
Three Core Functions, All in One Sensor
Function 1: Floor Material Identification for Deep Cleaning
The AUDIOWELL 300KHz ultrasonic sensor can identify more than nine types of flooring materials, ranging from hard surfaces such as hardwood, ceramic tiles, and stone to soft materials including short pile and long pile carpets, with precise discrimination.
This capability enables commercial cleaning robots to perform deep cleaning tailored to each floor type—wood floors require gentle vacuuming to avoid scratches, tiles can tolerate heavy water mopping, and long pile carpets demand strong suction for deep down cleaning. Traditional robots often rely on visual recognition or manual zone settings to switch modes; the former is susceptible to interference from lighting and color variations, while the latter is inefficient. The AUDIOWELL 300KHz ultrasonic sensor, however, is unaffected by ambient lighting and surface color, maintaining stable and reliable identification even in dim or complex lighting conditions. Based on the recognition results, the robot automatically selects the optimal cleaning mode, truly achieving “adaptive cleaning according to the material.”
Function 2: Cliff Detection for Equipment Safety
When operating in shopping malls, hotels, office buildings, and similar venues, commercial cleaning robots inevitably encounter low steps, platform edges, and other areas with varying heights. If the robot cannot accurately determine whether a “cliff” lies ahead, it may at best get stuck, and at worst fall and suffer damage.
The AUDIOWELL 300KHz ultrasonic sensor emits high-frequency acoustic waves to quickly assess whether the step height falls within a safe range, before deciding to move forward or turn. When a step height exceeding the safety threshold is detected, the system immediately triggers obstacle-avoidance actions, directing the robot to turn or replan its path. For steps within the safe height range, the sensor can also recognize them, enabling the robot to make a crossing decision, allowing the commercial cleaning robot to safely traverse platforms and continue cleaning in other areas. This combined “cliff detection + obstacle crossing decision” capability means the robot is no longer confined to a single level, but can freely navigate between areas of different heights.
Function 3: Curb Height Recognition for Precise Cleaning Boundary Definition
Edge cleaning is one of the fundamental operating modes for commercial cleaning robots. However, along curbs, step edges, and similar areas, the robot needs to accurately judge “whether the curb falls within the cleaning scope.” If the curb is too high, the robot’s forced climb may cause it to tip over; if it ignores the curb, the edge area becomes a cleaning dead zone.
The AUDIOWELL 300KHz ultrasonic sensor’s curb height recognition function precisely measures the curb height, thereby determining whether it should be cleaned. This capability ensures the robot “cleans when it should, and refrains when it shouldn’t” during edge operations, guaranteeing cleaning coverage while avoiding equipment risks caused by misjudgment.
The sensor can output digital signals directly and supports multiple communication interfaces including I2C, UART, and IO, allowing flexible integration with various host systems. With features such as waterproof and dustproof design, strong environmental durability, high directivity, low power consumption, and high reliability, it is well-suited for the long-term operational demands of commercial cleaning robots in diverse and complex environments.
From October 13 to 15, 2026, AUDIOWELL will showcase its 300KHz ultrasonic sensor at CCE Shenzhen 2026. Visitors will have the opportunity to see firsthand how a single sensor simultaneously delivers three core functions—floor material identification, cliff detection, and curb height recognition—enabling commercial cleaning robots to “identify materials, detect risks, and navigate with agility.”