C
ambridge, MA – Butlr, a Cambridge‑based physical AI company, has entered the corporate laboratory sector with its Heatic™ sensor platform, an anonymous sensing system that merges body‑heat detection and AI to provide real‑time data on lab use, safety compliance, and building operations.

    This launch builds on Butlr’s existing privacy‑first sensors, already deployed in offices, retail, and healthcare. As laboratories demand data‑driven oversight, the company positions Heatic as a vital tool for optimizing expensive, highly regulated facilities in life sciences, R&D, engineering, and product testing.

    The sensors detect human presence and movement without capturing personally identifiable information. In labs, managers can assess space and equipment usage, spot under‑utilized areas, and enforce safety by monitoring occupancy near hazardous materials—all while keeping users anonymous.

    For instance, a global medical‑technology firm used Butlr sensors to evaluate lab occupancy before a planned expansion. Thermal data showed a 30 % under‑utilization, allowing the company to repurpose existing space into offices instead of building a new facility. With life‑sciences fit‑out costs averaging $846 per square foot, such insights can save millions.

    “Setting up or reconfiguring lab space incurs more than fit‑out costs; it also involves wasted equipment and space,” said Honghao Deng, CEO and co‑founder. “Medical‑technology and life‑sciences companies are turning to Butlr data to make smarter real‑estate decisions.”

    Beyond spatial analytics, the sensor data integrates with commercial‑real‑estate, facilities‑management, and safety‑alert platforms, creating a unified approach to lab efficiency and compliance.

    As labs grapple with innovation, safety, and sustainability, Butlr’s move underscores the rising role of anonymous, data‑driven infrastructure intelligence in shaping future corporate research environments.