Analog Devices launches affordable iTOF 3D camera for robotics applications

The Analog Devices time-of-flight 3D camera has a variety of robotics and automation applications. | Source: Analog Devices

Analog Devices, Inc. announced the industry’s first high-resolution, industrial quality, indirect Time-of-Flight (iToF) module for 3D depth sensing and vision systems. With a one megapixel resolution sensor, the new ADTF3175 module offers image resolution that is double or triple the pixel count of competitive solutions. The camera offers +/-3mm resolution for machine vision applications ranging from industrial automation to logistics, healthcare and augmented reality.

The ADTF3175 camera is unique in its design and is an alternative to existing stereo 3D and LiDAR camera solutions, yet offers an imaging solution that can be used to extract 3D data from a scene. For robotic machine builders this new sensor option offers higher resolution than other iTOF cameras currently on the market.

The ADTF3175 is a fully calibrated time-of-flight 3D camera. | Source: Analog Devices

The ADTF3175 is fully calibrated for depth data, and ready to image a scene. The module in its current form is designed to be integrated into a larger structure such a mobile robot base, robotic gripper or camera body. Analog Devices offers other chip sets that easily integrate with the module and process the output from the ADTF3175.

The robust, high-resolution module is specifically designed to perform in a range of environmental settings and leverages state-of-the-art triple junction vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) technology from Lumentum Operations LLC, a leading provider of VCSEL arrays for light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and 3D sensing applications, to enable sensing in a wide range of lighting conditions.

images from ADTF3175 with 3D information

The ADTF3175 offers both greyscale and 3D annotated image frames from the camera. | Credit: Analog Devices

“We are thrilled to work with ADI on solutions for the industry’s most demanding and highest resolution 3D sensing applications, ranging from extended reality to industrial applications like robotics, intelligent buildings, and logistics systems,” said Téa Williams, Senior Vice President and General Manager of 3D Sensing at Lumentum. “Our 10W VCSEL arrays allow ADI to enable more capable sensing and vision systems that can operate under a wide range of lighting conditions and thereby removing environmental obstacles to broader and more rapid machine vision deployment.”

The ADTF3175 features an infrared illumination source with optics, laser diode and driver, and a receiver path with a lens and an optical band-pass filter. The module also includes flash memory for calibration and firmware storage plus power regulators to generate local supply voltages. It comes pre-programmed with several operating modes that are optimized for long and short range.

“Machine vision needs to make the leap to perceiving smaller, more subtle objects faster in industrial environments that often include harsh conditions and multiple stimuli,” said Tony Zarola, Senior Director for ToF at Analog Devices. “The ADTF3175’s unmatched resolution and accuracy allows vision and sensing systems – including industrial robots – to take on more precision-oriented tasks by enabling them to better understand the space they’re operating in and ultimately improve productivity. Bringing this to market helps bridge a major gap and accelerates deployment of the next generation of automation solutions and critical logistics systems.”

The ADTF3175 module will be accompanied with an open-source reference design for implementing the full system, all of the required drivers and access to ADI’s sophisticated depth processing capabilities. ADI also offers guidance on how to achieve Class One eye safety certification for the end product.

Analog Devices is partnering with Microsoft for some of the software elements in the imaging solution.

Analog Devices Product Line Director Erik Barnes states that preproduction samples are available for evaluation now, and full scale production will begin in Fall 2022. Price of the unit is $197 in 1,000 unit quantities, making this an affordable 3D sensing option.