Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AlphaSensor (Making protection from cancer-causing radon available to everyone with a unique radon sensor: small, fast, reliable, connected, affordable)
Reporting period: 2023-05-01 to 2024-10-31
Indoor radon is the second frequent source for lung cancer, causing each year over 290,000 deaths worldwide and a damage of 9 billion EUR to the European society. As a naturally occurring, widely-spread radioactive gas radon cannot be seen, smelled or tasted as it permeates from the subsurface into buildings, where it accumulates inside. To protect people the EU enacted a radon protection law. Throughout Europe 34 million buildings, mostly homes, are affected by increased radon levels and have a - soon in parts legally regulated - need for mitigation and monitoring. A compact, technically outstanding and affordable device is what this emerging market needs. However, every currently available radon sensor shows a certain lack of features. None of them is able to meet all requirements yet: Either not sensitive nor reliable nor robust enough or too large and too expensive. The AlphaSensor synergises all necessary aspects in one device: It is at least 70% smaller than other solutions and at the same time very fast, sensitive and precise. Furthermore, environmental influences like vibration, shock, humidity and temperature won’t affect it. Designed towards mass production, AlphaSensor can be produced in large quantities at low costs. Perfectly constructed to be integrated into indoor air quality monitors, air purifiers and air conditioners as well as into building control and ventilation systems, it complies with the demands of these high-volume markets (several billion EUR), which grow fast with a CAGR between 11% and 19%. Equipped with common interface standards, AlphaSensor can easily be integrated in all these products.
The overall objective of this project is to develop our unique AlphaSensor towards full market readiness. This includes further optimisation of the sensor’s hardware components and electronics towards even better sensitivity and optimised production costs as well as the integration of further connectivity features and the implementation of a software platform for managing and monitoring multiple radon sensors even on distributed properties.
Indoor radon is the second frequent source for lung cancer, causing each year over 290,000 deaths worldwide and a damage of 9 billion EUR to the European society. As a naturally occurring, widely-spread radioactive gas radon cannot be seen, smelled or tasted as it permeates from the subsurface into buildings, where it accumulates inside. To protect people the EU enacted a radon protection law. Throughout Europe 34 million buildings, mostly homes, are affected by increased radon levels and have a - soon in parts legally regulated - need for mitigation and monitoring. A compact, technically outstanding and affordable device is what this emerging market needs. However, every currently available radon sensor shows a certain lack of features. None of them is able to meet all requirements yet: Either not sensitive nor reliable nor robust enough or too large and too expensive. The AlphaSensor synergises all necessary aspects in one device: It is at least 70% smaller than other solutions and at the same time very fast, sensitive and precise. Furthermore, environmental influences like vibration, shock, humidity and temperature won’t affect it. Designed towards mass production, AlphaSensor can be produced in large quantities at low costs. Perfectly constructed to be integrated into indoor air quality monitors, air purifiers and air conditioners as well as into building control and ventilation systems, it complies with the demands of these high-volume markets (several billion EUR), which grow fast with a CAGR between 11% and 19%. Equipped with common interface standards, AlphaSensor can easily be integrated in all these products.
The overall objective of this project is to develop our unique AlphaSensor towards full market readiness. This includes further optimisation of the sensor’s hardware components and electronics towards even better sensitivity and optimised production costs as well as the integration of further connectivity features and the implementation of a software platform for managing and monitoring multiple radon sensors even on distributed properties.
The overall objective of this project is to develop our unique AlphaSensor towards full market readiness. This includes further optimisation of the sensor’s hardware components and electronics towards even better sensitivity and optimised production costs as well as the integration of further connectivity features and the implementation of a software platform for managing and monitoring multiple radon sensors even on distributed properties.
Indoor radon is the second frequent source for lung cancer, causing each year over 290,000 deaths worldwide and a damage of 9 billion EUR to the European society. As a naturally occurring, widely-spread radioactive gas radon cannot be seen, smelled or tasted as it permeates from the subsurface into buildings, where it accumulates inside. To protect people the EU enacted a radon protection law. Throughout Europe 34 million buildings, mostly homes, are affected by increased radon levels and have a - soon in parts legally regulated - need for mitigation and monitoring. A compact, technically outstanding and affordable device is what this emerging market needs. However, every currently available radon sensor shows a certain lack of features. None of them is able to meet all requirements yet: Either not sensitive nor reliable nor robust enough or too large and too expensive. The AlphaSensor synergises all necessary aspects in one device: It is at least 70% smaller than other solutions and at the same time very fast, sensitive and precise. Furthermore, environmental influences like vibration, shock, humidity and temperature won’t affect it. Designed towards mass production, AlphaSensor can be produced in large quantities at low costs. Perfectly constructed to be integrated into indoor air quality monitors, air purifiers and air conditioners as well as into building control and ventilation systems, it complies with the demands of these high-volume markets (several billion EUR), which grow fast with a CAGR between 11% and 19%. Equipped with common interface standards, AlphaSensor can easily be integrated in all these products.
The overall objective of this project is to develop our unique AlphaSensor towards full market readiness. This includes further optimisation of the sensor’s hardware components and electronics towards even better sensitivity and optimised production costs as well as the integration of further connectivity features and the implementation of a software platform for managing and monitoring multiple radon sensors even on distributed properties.
In the first year of the project, the AlphaSensor core sensor, including the scintillator, electronic board and SiPM, was optimized for higher sensitivity and better manufacturability. Based on this core sensor, two radon monitors (AlphaTracer Industry and AlphaTracer Office) with improved connectivity have been developed and are currently being evaluated by pilot customers. These devices allow easy integration of radon control into building automation systems and can operate in harsh environments (IP54 protection). In addition, a prototype of a comprehensive indoor air quality monitoring system using the AlphaSensor was developed and tested.
In the second year, the project expanded its product range and improved connectivity solutions. Key developments included the creation of a cloud platform (dashboard.livair.io) for data visualization and analysis, and the development of several products: LivAir1, LivAir Radon, LivAir RadonSys, and LivAir Home. Software packages and APIs were also developed to improve sensor connectivity and integration into indoor air quality and control applications, incorporating interfaces such as Bluetooth, WiFi, Modbus and NB-IoT. Various sensor housings were designed to protect the electronics while ensuring adequate airflow for radon detection by a nice look and feel. Robust calibration procedures and quality management systems were established to ensure sensor accuracy and reliability. Extensive stakeholder engagement and go-to-market activities were conducted, including participation in trade shows, updating the business plan, and developing marketing materials.
These achievements have positioned the AlphaSensor project with the LivAir products for successful market entry and long-term impact on improving indoor air quality and protecting public health.
In the second year, the project expanded its product range and improved connectivity solutions. Key developments included the creation of a cloud platform (dashboard.livair.io) for data visualization and analysis, and the development of several products: LivAir1, LivAir Radon, LivAir RadonSys, and LivAir Home. Software packages and APIs were also developed to improve sensor connectivity and integration into indoor air quality and control applications, incorporating interfaces such as Bluetooth, WiFi, Modbus and NB-IoT. Various sensor housings were designed to protect the electronics while ensuring adequate airflow for radon detection by a nice look and feel. Robust calibration procedures and quality management systems were established to ensure sensor accuracy and reliability. Extensive stakeholder engagement and go-to-market activities were conducted, including participation in trade shows, updating the business plan, and developing marketing materials.
These achievements have positioned the AlphaSensor project with the LivAir products for successful market entry and long-term impact on improving indoor air quality and protecting public health.
The AlphaSensor project has made significant progress in the development and optimization of radon sensors. The sensitivity of the AlphaSensor has been improved by 50%, making it the only radon sensor fast and accurate enough for integration into building automation systems. This enables highly dynamic and energy-efficient real-time radon control. The IP54-rated AlphaTracer Industry is the first radon monitoring device that can perform reliably in harsh environments, such as water plants, mines, tunnels, and industrial buildings with high levels of dust or moisture.
The project also developed a cloud platform (dashboard.livair.io) for visualizing and analyzing radon data. Several products, including LivAir1, LivAir Radon, and LivAir Home, have been developed and are currently being evaluated by pilot customers. Robust calibration procedures and quality management systems have been established to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the sensors.
To ensure further adoption and success, additional research, demonstration projects, access to markets and financing, a comprehensive commercialization strategy, internationalization, and a supportive regulatory framework are needed. These actions will help increase market acceptance and maximize the long-term impact on improving indoor air quality and protecting public health.
The project also developed a cloud platform (dashboard.livair.io) for visualizing and analyzing radon data. Several products, including LivAir1, LivAir Radon, and LivAir Home, have been developed and are currently being evaluated by pilot customers. Robust calibration procedures and quality management systems have been established to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the sensors.
To ensure further adoption and success, additional research, demonstration projects, access to markets and financing, a comprehensive commercialization strategy, internationalization, and a supportive regulatory framework are needed. These actions will help increase market acceptance and maximize the long-term impact on improving indoor air quality and protecting public health.