MotionCam 3D Coloration (Blue) permits correct scanning at a distance as on this palletizing software. Supply: Photoneo
Robots usually want a number of sensors to understand their environments and manipulate gadgets. Nonetheless, sure supplies and lighting situations may cause issues. Photoneo at present introduced its MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) sensor, which it claimed takes a brand new method to 3D machine imaginative and prescient.
Present sensors contain a tradeoff amongst pace, robustness, decision, and ease of upkeep, acknowledged Svorad Stolc, chief expertise officer of Photoneo. Stereo cameras present good body charges however are restricted in information high quality, and time-of-flight (ToF) cameras are compact however are poor in decision or accuracy of scene geometry, he mentioned.
As well as, parallel structured gentle expertise, Photoneo’s specialty, presents element however requires objects to be stationary throughout picture seize, noticed Stolc in a launch webinar.
“One other downside is artifacts generated by supplies that aren’t cooperative … these supplies are shiny, black, clear, or extremely reflective,” he defined. “[There’s also] the quantity of ambient gentle within the scene.”
MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) shouldn’t be affected by ambient gentle, together with direct daylight. Supply: Photoneo
MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) captures information in movement
MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) makes use of a blue laser fairly than the extra widespread crimson laser for extra sturdy imaginative and prescient and may even seize objects transferring at 144 kph (90 mph), mentioned Stolc. By delivering sub-millimeter accuracy at as much as 20 fps, this permits for picture seize for duties akin to dimensioning with out halting manufacturing traces.
The new sensor can present high-resolution information from transferring autos and elements with out requiring pauses for 3D scanning or servo synchronization. It builds on Photoneo’s current proprietary expertise however captures information as much as 5 occasions quicker, it mentioned.
The firm claimed that MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue)’s quicker publicity time permits dynamic object dealing with, slicing cycle occasions by as much as 2 seconds for high-speed meeting environments. It additionally mentioned that this allows selecting of 97% of objects in logistics and automotive manufacturing, eliminating blur and the necessity for pre-sorting.
As well as, the sensor can decide up darkish, clear, or reflective objects and isn’t affected by ambient situations, together with direct daylight or steel surfaces at 1,200°C (2,200°F), mentioned Photoneo.
The brand new sensor can detect totally different supplies higher than typical sensors, says Photoneo. Supply: Photoneo
Knowledge stream to feed digital twins
“MotionCam-3D, mixed with Instantaneous Meshing software program, permits real-time digital twinning by repeatedly changing a stream of 3D information into an entire, high-fidelity mesh — all within the time it takes most 3D scanners to seize a single static view,” asserted Photoneo.
Together with information from its RGB 3D digital camera by sensor fusion, the brand new sensor can energy high-accuracy industrial inspection, bin selecting, and digital twins for integration with synthetic intelligence inference, mentioned Stolc.
“We are able to now scan from a number of views for robotic movement and get full 3D information that mixes viewing views,” he famous. “[With] half geometries like skinny steel sheets or L-shaped elements which are seen from one aspect however not one other, our sensors might help spot defects, reduce cycle occasions, and supply higher localization efficiency.”
Stolc famous that the at a shorter wavelength, MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) can undertaking extra strongly for decrease “noise” and scanning of pallets or massive elements at distances as much as 4 m (13 ft.).
The brand new MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) can acquire information for digital twins. Supply: Photoneo
Photoneo pledges zero downtime
Not solely the sensor {hardware} been redesigned, however the MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) additionally comes with new software program that features a built-in Autonomous Upkeep characteristic, mentioned Patrik Daniel, software program growth lead at Photoneo.
“The query of upkeep of 3D imaginative and prescient gadgets is a tough level,” he mentioned. “Often, it [involves] some tedious duties, like getting a skilled individual on website. The manufacturing traces really must cease,” he mentioned. “Any more, we’re designing all new Photoneo merchandise with the daring objective of zero downtime for our prospects.”
Typical eventualities for utilizing the characteristic embrace earlier than setup to verify a line is working, or when there are main adjustments to the atmosphere akin to temperature or humidity in transferring from lab to manufacturing, Daniel mentioned. Motion shocks from transporting the machine or robotic collisions may require a reset for precision functions.
MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) helps GigE Imaginative and prescient 2.1, permitting for plug-and-play integration with third-party software program and straightforward coding in C++, Python, or GenICa-compliant platforms, mentioned Daniel.
The MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) is barely bigger however extra succesful than earlier fashions. Supply: Photoneo
Photoneo makes MotionCam-3D obtainable
Based in 2013, Photoneo s.r.o. began with CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) expertise for scanning with out vibration interference after which moved to parallel structured gentle, mentioned Daniel. The Bratislava, Slovakia-based firm has served the automotive business, which has important manufacturing in that nation.
In December 2024, 2D and 3D sensor supplier Zebra Applied sciences Corp. acquired the unit from Photoneo Brightpick Group. In the meantime, the Brightpick unit continued with its Autopicker cellular manipulator, which received a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for Utility of the Yr.
At Automate 2025, Photoneo demonstrated selecting of baggage from a rack utilizing a steady stream of 3D information for an uninterrupted course of in automobile manufacturing.
How did Photoneo work with prospects to develop the MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue)?
“The corporate has software engineers and workplaces all over the world, and so they’re fairly often onsite, amassing the information,” replied Martin Michalik, product specialist at Photoneo. “We’ve got been in pilots and are accepting orders now.”
The MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) will start transport subsequent week alongside Photoneo’s RGB and crimson MotionCam-3D sensors. It would additionally include Model 1.15 of the corporate’s software programming interface (API) and a brand new model of its PhoXi management software program.
Photoneo demonstrated vision-guided quick selecting of baggage at Automate. Supply: Photoneo
