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SICK unveiled the first in a new generation of Ruler3000 3D streaming cameras. The Ruler3000 line combines SICK’s Ranger3 streaming camera with a Class 2 eye-safe laser, pre-selected optics and fixed geometries.

Powered by SICK’s CMOS sensor and ROCC (Rapid On-Chip Calculation) technology, the Ruler3000’s integrated streaming camera processes up to 15.4Gp/s to enable up to 7000 full-frame 3D profiles per second. SICK said the Ruler3000 extracts the true 3D shape of an object, regardless of its contrast or color, as well as simultaneously capturing greyscale and scattered light measurements, so image processing and measurement precision can be optimized.

The Ruler3000’s high light sensitivity enables inspection of dark or highly-reflective materials, while its High Dynamic Range (HDR) function allows components with different light remissions.

SICK said the camera’s performance on light, dark, reflective and contrasting surfaces, together with its field of view, make it ideal for high-end inspection and precise localization duties, when mounted above a conveyor or on a robot arm. It is therefore likely to find diverse applications in industries including electronics, automotive components, consumer goods, food and beverage and pharmaceutical production.

The newly developed SICK GenIStream API facilitates integration for C# and C++ users. Full compatibility with industry standards such as GigEvision and GenICam, provides plug and play access to third-party software. In addition, developers have access to SICK’s AppSpace software development platform with its range of image processing tools and application examples.

The SICK Ruler3020 is the first release in the Ruler3000 product family. It delivers 3D profiles at up to 7kHz full format, or up to 46 kHz with a reduced region of interest. Measurements are output in millimeter values with a Z-resolution from 8-15µm and an X-resolution from 63-88µm, assuring high definition to inspect dark or reflective surfaces, as well as to output precision data for accurate robot guidance. Accurate measurement values are assured down to 8 µm in height.

SICK plans to release more variants with differing fields of view during 2021. With a compact design, the IP65/67 SICK Ruler3020 can cope with harsh industrial environments without the need to design expensive protection in the machine.

SICK won a 2021 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for its LiDAR-LOC (Localization On Contour), a software solution through which companies can implement contour-based localization – and hence navigation – on any automated guided vehicle, cart, forklift or service robot equipped with SICK sensors.