Smart, Scalable, and Sustainable: Flasheye’s Modular Approach to 3D
Perception Technology
Modularity is transforming product design, making circularity easier to achieve. Through such initiatives, products can be repaired, upgraded, or replaced part by part, without discarding the entire system.[1] This reduces waste, saves resources, and extends product life, aligning perfectly with sustainable business goals. The focus is shifting from products designed to be thrown away to those built for long-term use and reuse.[2]
For small businesses, modularity is more than good design—it’s a product design logic that drives innovation. Through their expertise in modularity, small firms are helping large industrial companies, which are often more traditional and deeply specialized in their core business, where they have been operating for years. By offering adaptable, upgradable solutions, these Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) support large firms in integrating circular practices without disrupting existing operations. [3] Their ability to quickly adapt and update parts helps reduce costs and drive sustainability, particularly in fast-evolving industries like tech and engineering. [4]
SMEs in Northern Sweden are driving sustainable innovation by connecting modular design expertise with circular benefits, helping large firms adopt greener practices. The region’s focus on green technology, backed by initiatives like Industrial Leap and Climate Leap, strengthens SME contributions to the green transition. Collaborative platforms such as North Sweden Cleantech support start-ups and SMEs, fostering sustainable solutions and innovation. These efforts align with Sweden’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2045, positioning Northern Sweden as a leader in green industrial development.[5] [6]
Similarly, Norrlandsnavet – a business development center in Northern Sweden, established in collaboration with the Kamprad Family Foundation and Luleå University of Technology – accelerates SME growth by promoting innovation, sustainability, and digitalization. It helps businesses tackle regional challenges through need-driven research and collaboration, empowering SMEs to drive sustainable development and advance the green transition.[7]
Supported by a Norrlandsnavet-funded project, we collaborated with SMEs that heavily incorporate modularity in their solutions to help large industrial firms enhance circularity. Below, we highlight the transformative initiatives of one such SME, Flasheye, driving this shift.
Flasheye in action: Modular 3D LiDAR solutions for enhanced autonomy
Flasheye, a company of around fifteen employees, is a Swedish tech innovator in 3D LiDAR, and demonstrates how modularity can enable circular solutions in industries like mining, manufacturing, robotics, agriculture, defence, drones, security, and transportation. This isn’t just high-tech gadgetry; it’s a transformative tool that gathers and processes spatial data autonomously, creating a seamless awareness layer for machines, systems, and humans alike (refer to Table 1).
Modularity Principle [8] | Description | Product Features | Incorporation |
|---|---|---|---|
Decoupling Interface - Adaptable Core Components | Core components are designed to function independently while integrating seamlessly with different systems. | 3D Zones, Tracking and Filtering Settings, Sensor Health | Flasheye’s core features create a flexible base for integration across industries. Sensor health monitoring ensures compatibility with various sensor brands, enabling versatile applications in healthcare, industrial automation, and more. |
Reusability - Multi-functional Building Blocks | Components are built to be adaptable across different systems and applications. | 3D Traces Viewer, Object Detection, Motion Detection, Classification | Flasheye’s object and motion detection features adapt to various settings, whether monitoring a manufacturing line, tracking |
Scalability - Multi-sensor Aggregation for Expanding Needs | Modules support the scaling of operations by allowing for additional sensors and expanded functionality. | Multi-Sensor Aggregation, Counting | Multi-sensor aggregation lets Flasheye’s clients increase coverage, as in high-traffic areas like airports, where counting features monitor flow and sensors scale up as required. |
Customization - Configurable for Specific Requirements | Users can configure specific features to meet individual or industry-specific needs | Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) Camera Control, Tracking and Filtering Settings | Adjustable PTZ camera control and tracking settings allow end users to customize zones and camera angles, ideal for diverse use cases from precise security surveillance to targeted industrial monitoring. |
Flexibility - Easily Replaceable or Upgradable Modules | Emphasis on long-term use of components via upgrades and maintenance, reducing waste. | Sensor Health, Object Detection | By upgrading object detection software and using sensor health monitoring, clients extend hardware life without replacing entire systems, supporting sustainable practices aligned with a circular economy. |
Concluding remark: A scalable ‘One-Size-Fits-All’ solution driving circularity
In today’s fast-paced tech landscape, Flasheye stands out with its modular design, offering a versatile, near ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution that adapts to diverse industry needs with minimal customization. From factory monitoring to crowd management and hazardous environment safety, Flasheye’s 3D perception modules cut deployment costs while enhancing efficiency.
By enabling upgrades to existing equipment, Flasheye promotes sustainability, extending machinery life and reducing waste—key pillars of the circular economy. This smart, adaptable approach drives operational success and reinforces the value of durable, high-quality design, paving the way for a greener, more resilient industrial future.
References
1. Sonego, M., Echeveste, M. E. S., & Debarba, H. G. (2018). The role of modularity in sustainable design: A systematic review. Journal of cleaner production, 176, 196-209.
2. Lau, A. K., Yam, R. C., & Tang, E. (2011). The impact of product modularity on new product performance: Mediation by product innovativeness. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 28(2), 270-284. 3. Firmhouse (n.d). Why modularity is the key to circularity https://www.firmhouse.com/blog/why-modularity-is-key-to-circularity.
4. Colin de Kwant (2024). How to Design Products for the Circular Economy? https://www.modularmanagement.com/blog/product-design-for-circular-economy.
5. North Sweden CleanTech (n.d). https://www.northswedencleantech.se/en/.
6. New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade (2024). Northern Sweden's Green Industrial Revolution. https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Trade-General/Trade-Market-reports/Northern-Swedens-Green-Industrial-Revolution-Sept-2024.pdf.
7. Luleå University of Technology (2024). Norrlandsnavet. https://www.ltu.se/en/collaboration/norrlandsnavet.
8. Mesa, J. A., Esparragoza, I., & Maury, H. (2020). Modular architecture principles–MAPs: a key factor in the development of sustainable open architecture products. International Journal of Sustainable Engineering, 13(2), 108-122.
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