Industrial camera captures 3D images in an instant

The camera uses high-resolution Time-of–Flight (TOF) technology. Unlike 3D vision systems based on laser triangulation, the 3D image is captured with one shot of light, without the need to profile a moving object.

While single shot imaging systems have already been introduced for consumer applications, the IP67-rated Visionary-T is designed for 24/7 industrial use in rugged conditions and can offer a cost-effective solution to integrate 3D imaging into vision applications such as obstacle recognition for automated vehicle or robot navigation, intrusion detection, parcel quality checking or gesture recognition. Images of moving or stationary objects are captured within a range of up to 7m.

Explains Neil Sandhu, SICK’s National Product Manager for Imaging, Measurement, Ranging and Systems:

The Visionary T builds up a detailed and accurate real-time 3D image of fixed or moving objects regardless of angle, surface finish, material or shape of object. It is not necessary to design a system that requires either the camera or the object to move across a laser line to create a triangulated image.

 

In a single shot it combines different aspects of the light scattered by the object to build up a detailed picture of shape, distance, reflectivity and object depth. Trials have shown that the single shot method performs well, with less false imaging than can occur with some of the other commonly used methods.

The SICK Visionary-T uses Time-of-Flight measurement of a light signal between the device and the target for each point of the image. The CCD/CMOS imager develops a pixel matrix, with each pixel containing depth and intensity information.  The camera is designed to capture more than 25,000 distance and intensity values to create real time 3D images at up to 30 frames per second.