MotionCam 3D Colour (Blue) permits correct scanning at a distance as on this palletizing utility. Supply: Photoneo
Robots sometimes want a number of sensors to understand their environments and manipulate gadgets. Nevertheless, sure supplies and lighting circumstances may cause issues. Photoneo at the moment introduced its MotionCam-3D Colour (Blue) sensor, which it claimed takes a brand new strategy to 3D machine imaginative and prescient.
Present sensors contain a tradeoff amongst pace, robustness, decision, and ease of upkeep, said Svorad Stolc, chief know-how 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 stated.
As well as, parallel structured gentle know-how, Photoneo’s specialty, affords 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 Colour (Blue) shouldn’t be affected by ambient gentle, together with direct daylight. Supply: Photoneo
MotionCam-3D Colour (Blue) captures information in movement
MotionCam-3D Colour (Blue) makes use of a blue laser fairly than the extra frequent pink laser for extra sturdy imaginative and prescient and might even seize objects shifting at 144 kph (90 mph), stated Stolc. By delivering sub-millimeter accuracy at as much as 20 fps, this enables for picture seize for duties reminiscent of dimensioning with out halting manufacturing strains.
The new sensor can present high-resolution information from shifting autos and components with out requiring pauses for 3D scanning or servo synchronization. It builds on Photoneo’s present proprietary know-how however captures information as much as 5 occasions sooner, it stated.
The firm claimed that MotionCam-3D Colour (Blue)’s sooner publicity time permits dynamic object dealing with, slicing cycle occasions by as much as 2 seconds for high-speed meeting environments. It additionally stated that this allows choosing 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 circumstances, 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
Information stream to feed digital twins
“MotionCam-3D, mixed with Prompt Meshing software program, permits real-time digital twinning by constantly 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 digicam by means of sensor fusion, the brand new sensor can energy high-accuracy industrial inspection, bin choosing, 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 information that mixes viewing views,” he famous. “[With] half geometries like skinny metallic sheets or L-shaped components which are seen from one facet however not one other, our sensors may help spot defects, lower cycle occasions, and supply higher localization efficiency.”
Stolc famous that the at a shorter wavelength, MotionCam-3D Colour (Blue) can undertaking extra strongly for decrease “noise” and scanning of pallets or giant components at distances as much as 4 m (13 ft.).
The brand new MotionCam-3D Colour (Blue) can acquire information for digital twins. Supply: Photoneo
Photoneo pledges zero downtime
Not solely the sensor {hardware} been redesigned, however the MotionCam-3D Colour (Blue) additionally comes with new software program that features a built-in Autonomous Upkeep characteristic, stated Patrik Daniel, software program improvement lead at Photoneo.
“The query of upkeep of 3D imaginative and prescient gadgets is a tough level,” he stated. “Often, it [involves] some tedious duties, like getting a educated individual on web site. The manufacturing strains really must cease,” he stated. “Any further, we’re designing all new Photoneo merchandise with the daring objective of zero downtime for our prospects.”
Typical eventualities for utilizing the characteristic embody earlier than setup to verify a line is working, or when there are main adjustments to the surroundings reminiscent of temperature or humidity in shifting from lab to manufacturing, Daniel stated. Motion shocks from transporting the system or robotic collisions can even require a reset for precision functions.
MotionCam-3D Colour (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 Colour (Blue) is barely bigger however extra succesful than earlier fashions. Supply: Photoneo
Photoneo makes MotionCam-3D out there
Based in 2013, Photoneo s.r.o. began with CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) know-how for scanning with out vibration interference after which moved to parallel structured gentle, stated Daniel. The Bratislava, Slovakia-based firm has served the automotive business, which has vital 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 gained a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for Software of the 12 months.
At Automate 2025, Photoneo demonstrated choosing of luggage from a rack utilizing a steady stream of 3D information for an uninterrupted course of in automotive manufacturing.
How did Photoneo work with prospects to develop the MotionCam-3D Colour (Blue)?
“The corporate has utility engineers and workplaces all over the world, they usually’re fairly often onsite, amassing the info,” replied Martin Michalik, product specialist at Photoneo. “Now we have been in pilots and are accepting orders now.”
The MotionCam-3D Colour (Blue) will start transport subsequent week alongside Photoneo’s RGB and pink MotionCam-3D sensors. It’s going to additionally include Model 1.15 of the corporate’s utility programming interface (API) and a brand new model of its PhoXi management software program.
Photoneo demonstrated vision-guided quick choosing of luggage at Automate. Supply: Photoneo
