In industrial automation, 3D vision is used to help robots determine where objects are located, how they are oriented and how they can be picked, inspected or sorted. Photoneo’s MotionCam-3D Color is a camera that combines 3D data with color information, including in situations where the object or the camera itself is moving. The camera captures a three-dimensional view of a scene and converts it into a point cloud. This gives a robot or vision system information about the shape, position and distance of objects. The addition of color data makes it possible to link an object’s geometry to visual characteristics, such as markings, labels, color differences or surface details.
The main technical difference compared with many other 3D vision solutions is that the camera is designed for dynamic situations. In many production environments, a conveyor belt has to be stopped or a robot arm has to pause briefly to make a reliable 3D scan. This camera is designed to capture data while the movement continues.
This can be relevant for parts passing on a conveyor, robots that need to rescan quickly after a failed pick, or large objects that need to be viewed from several angles. Instead of relying on separate stationary scans, the camera can collect 3D information during the process.
Use above conveyor belts
A typical use case is mounting the camera above a conveyor belt. The camera then observes objects moving underneath it. The vision system uses the 3D data to determine the position, height and orientation of each object. A robot can use this information to pick, sort or position a part.
Because the camera also links color information to the 3D geometry, the system can not only determine where an object is located, but also distinguish between product variants or visible features. This can be relevant for quality control, order picking or recognizing products that are similar in shape.
Camera mounted on a robot arm
The camera can also be mounted on a robot arm. In this setup, the sensor moves together with the robot. This is useful when a single fixed camera angle is not sufficient, for example with large parts, deep bins or objects with hidden areas.
The robot can map different parts of the object or bin while it moves. This creates a more complete 3D view without requiring the robot to stop repeatedly for separate scans. In applications such as bin picking, this can help determine which part is reachable and how the gripper should be positioned.
Information
For robots, the purpose of this type of camera is not to take a picture, but to provide usable spatial information. The robot needs to know where an object is, how it is rotated, how high it is, where possible gripping points are and whether a movement can be carried out safely.
The combination of 3D data and color information can add further context. In a production environment, this can help with locating parts, recognizing product variants, checking surfaces or correcting robot movements when parts are not always in the same position. The MotionCam-3D Color fits into the broader development of robot systems that are less dependent on fixed positions and stationary objects. The camera is designed to give robots and machines current 3D information in processes where parts, conveyors or robot arms remain in motion.
