MotionCam 3D Coloration (Blue) permits correct scanning at a distance as on this palletizing software. Supply: Photoneo
Robots sometimes want a number of sensors to understand their environments and manipulate gadgets. Nevertheless, sure supplies and lighting situations may cause issues. Photoneo immediately 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, said Svorad Stolc, chief expertise officer of Photoneo. Stereo cameras present good body charges however are restricted in knowledge high quality, and time-of-flight (ToF) cameras are compact however are poor in decision or accuracy of scene geometry, he stated.
As well as, parallel structured mild expertise, Photoneo’s specialty, gives 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 additionally) the quantity of ambient mild within the scene.”
MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) just isn’t affected by ambient mild, together with direct daylight. Supply: Photoneo
MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) captures knowledge in movement
MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) makes use of a blue laser moderately than the extra frequent crimson laser for extra sturdy imaginative and prescient and might even seize objects transferring at 144 kph (90 mph), stated Stolc. By delivering sub-millimeter accuracy at as much as 20 fps, this permits for picture seize for duties equivalent to dimensioning with out halting manufacturing strains.
The new sensor can present high-resolution knowledge from transferring automobiles and components with out requiring pauses for 3D scanning or servo synchronization. It builds on Photoneo’s present proprietary expertise however captures knowledge as much as 5 instances sooner, it stated.
The corporate claimed that MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue)’s sooner publicity time permits dynamic object dealing with, reducing cycle instances by as much as 2 seconds for high-speed meeting environments. It additionally stated 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 choose up darkish, clear, or reflective objects and isn’t affected by ambient situations, together with direct daylight or metallic surfaces at 1,200°C (2,200°F), stated Photoneo.
The brand new sensor can detect completely 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 knowledge 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 knowledge from its RGB 3D digicam by sensor fusion, the brand new sensor can energy high-accuracy industrial inspection, bin selecting, and digital twins for integration with synthetic intelligence inference, stated Stolc.
“We will now scan from a number of views for robotic movement and get full 3D knowledge that mixes viewing views,” he famous. “(With) half geometries like skinny metallic sheets or L-shaped components which can be seen from one facet however not one other, our sensors might help spot defects, lower cycle instances, and supply higher localization efficiency.”
Stolc famous that the at a shorter wavelength, MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) can mission extra strongly for decrease “noise” and scanning of pallets or massive components at distances as much as 4 m (13 ft.).
The brand new MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) can acquire knowledge 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 function, stated Patrik Daniel, software program improvement lead at Photoneo.
“The query of upkeep of 3D imaginative and prescient units is a difficult level,” he stated. “Normally, it (entails) some tedious duties, like getting a skilled particular person on website. The manufacturing strains really have to cease,” he stated. “Any more, we’re designing all new Photoneo merchandise with the daring aim of zero downtime for our clients.”
Typical situations for utilizing the function embody earlier than setup to verify a line is working, or when there are main modifications to the setting equivalent to temperature or humidity in transferring from lab to manufacturing, Daniel stated. Motion shocks from transporting the system or robotic collisions may also require a reset for precision purposes.
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, stated Daniel.
The MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) is barely bigger however extra succesful than earlier fashions. Supply: Photoneo
Photoneo makes MotionCam-3D accessible
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 mild, stated Daniel. The Bratislava, Slovakia-based firm has served the automotive trade, 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 luggage from a rack utilizing a steady stream of 3D knowledge for an uninterrupted course of in automotive manufacturing.
How did Photoneo work with clients to develop the MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue)?
“The corporate has software engineers and places of work around the globe, and so they’re fairly often onsite, accumulating the information,” replied Martin Michalik, product specialist at Photoneo. “We’ve been in pilots and are accepting orders now.”
The MotionCam-3D Coloration (Blue) will start delivery 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 luggage at Automate. Supply: Photoneo
