Miniature version of snapshot vision sensor released

SICK has released a miniature version of its powerful and robust Visionary-T 3D snapshot vision sensor. Thanks to a pioneering collaboration between SICK and Microsoft, the SICK Visionary-T Mini is said to pack “ precise, high-resolution and rapid image capture into a robust design that is both compact and lightweight for a wide variety of industrial uses”.

The SICK Visionary-T Mini uses best-in-class time-of-flight snapshot technology to set new standards of data accuracy for detailed environmental perception at high speed. It captures both the 3D depth and 2D intensity values of every pixel at an exceptional (512 × 424 px) resolution in a single shot of light, at up to 30 3D frames per second.

“The SICK Visionary-T Mini is, therefore, a compact and versatile all-rounder for factory automation, materials handling and logistics environments, and delivers the same high performance whether installed in static applications, on moving machinery or robots,” it states.

The Visionary-T Mini’s high repetition rate ensures there are no blurring effects as a result of movement of the camera or the object. It is said to be particularly well-suited to dynamic applications where lower weight is an advantage or installation space is at a premium. 

Versatile industrial applications

With a low-weight and no moving parts, the Visionary-T Mini performs reliably, despite the shocks and vibrations of applications such as robot palletising and depalletising, or when used as part of object detection, collision warning or navigation systems in automated guided carts, forklifts and mobile robots. “Its precise data quality is an advantage for 3D dimensioning and level detection duties – for example, for packaging completeness checks, warehouse storage and retrieval systems, or for intelligent loading of freight trucks.”

States Neil Sandhu, SICK UK product managing for imaging, measurement and ranging: “The SICK Visionary-T Mini fuses the best of SICK’s industrial camera expertise with the type of precision sensing technologies from Microsoft Corp. that you would more normally except to find in mobile phones. The result is an extremely competitive price performance level, with consistently excellent 3D and 2D data quality for even the most rugged industrial conditions, including where there is bright light or very dark conditions.

“The Visionary-T Mini also makes it easy to integrate the data stream into your applications, particularly where the target is moving, such as for anti-collision for mobile vehicles or for robot picking from a belt, for example.”

The automatic High Dynamic Range of the Visionary-T Mini is also said to ensure that even widely-varying contrasts and lighting conditions across a scene are captured in each frame, without the need for complex set up or expert knowledge of time-of-flight settings. The high-density 512 x 424 px resolution is complemented by a 70° x 60° field of view.

Programming and configuration

As a programmable device, the SICK Visionary-T Mini is easy to configure and commission, adds SICK. “The user-friendly visualisation and configuration tool makes it easy to set up the device parameters and adapt the data to the specific application. A multicam mode is available to process image data from more than one Visionary-T Mini. With rapid 3D data transmission, the Visionary-T Mini is suitable for integration into most industrial applications.”

The Visionary-T Mini measures just 80 x 70 x 77 mm (w x h x d) and weighs only 520g, so it can be fitted into even the smallest machine spaces, on robot arms, or onto small and lightweight automated guided carts.

The Visionary-T Mini is a rugged industrial sensor with IP65/IP67 housing and no moving parts, capable of operating at temperatures between -10 and + 50°C, and in bright sunlight up to 50kLux. Rapid and stable communication is assured over industrial Gigabit Ethernet, as well as robust electrical performance, including resistance to electromagnetic interference, SICK concludes.