MotionCam 3D Colour (Blue) allows 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 objects. Nevertheless, sure supplies and lighting circumstances may cause issues. Photoneo right now introduced its MotionCam-3D Colour (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, provides 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 mild within the scene.”
MotionCam-3D Colour (Blue) isn’t affected by ambient mild, together with direct daylight. Supply: Photoneo
MotionCam-3D Colour (Blue) captures knowledge in movement
MotionCam-3D Colour (Blue) makes use of a blue laser slightly than the extra frequent crimson laser for extra strong 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 enables for picture seize for duties comparable to dimensioning with out halting manufacturing traces.
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 current proprietary expertise however captures knowledge as much as 5 occasions sooner, it stated.
The firm claimed that MotionCam-3D Colour (Blue)’s sooner publicity time allows dynamic object dealing with, chopping cycle occasions by as much as 2 seconds for high-speed meeting environments. It additionally stated that this permits 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 On the spot Meshing software program, allows 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 digital camera 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 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 can assist spot defects, minimize cycle occasions, and supply higher localization efficiency.”
Stolc famous that the at a shorter wavelength, MotionCam-3D Colour (Blue) can venture 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 knowledge 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 function, stated Patrik Daniel, software program growth lead at Photoneo.
“The query of upkeep of 3D imaginative and prescient units is a tough level,” he stated. “Normally, it [involves] some tedious duties, like getting a skilled individual on website. The manufacturing traces really have to cease,” he stated. “Any further, we’re designing all new Photoneo merchandise with the daring objective of zero downtime for our clients.”
Typical eventualities for utilizing the function embrace earlier than setup to verify a line is working, or when there are main modifications to the atmosphere comparable to temperature or humidity in transferring from lab to manufacturing, Daniel stated. Motion shocks from transporting the system or robotic collisions also can require a reset for precision purposes.
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 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 mild, stated Daniel. The Bratislava, Slovakia-based firm has served the automotive trade, 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 Yr.
At Automate 2025, Photoneo demonstrated choosing of baggage 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 Colour (Blue)?
“The corporate has utility engineers and places of work world wide, they usually’re fairly often onsite, gathering the information,” replied Martin Michalik, product specialist at Photoneo. “We’ve got been in pilots and are accepting orders now.”
The MotionCam-3D Colour (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 utility programming interface (API) and a brand new model of its PhoXi management software program.
Photoneo demonstrated vision-guided quick choosing of baggage at Automate. Supply: Photoneo
