Ensenso 3D camera makes bin picking easy and cost-efficient

One German company is using this stereo camera system in its standard bin-picking cells, where the robots achieve cycle times of less than 10 seconds. This would not be possible with conventional configurations light section methods. 

The Ensenso currently offers a USB connection and will soon also be available with a GigE connection. The camera integrates two global shutter CMOS sensors with WVGA resolution and powerful software in a very compact housing.

It also functions as an infrared pattern projector. It projects a random pattern of dots onto the object to be captured, allowing structures that are not visible or only faintly visible on the surface to be enhanced or highlighted.

The object is then captured by the two image sensors and the 3D coordinates are reconstructed or calculated for each and every pixel using geometric relations based on the triangulation principle. 

Even if parts with a relatively monotone surface are placed in the bin, a virtually seamless and detailed 3D image of the entire surface can be generated without additional technical effort.

The camera is designed for working distances of 260mm to 1,400mm and for variable picture fields. The available focal lengths of 3.6 to 16mm can cover a wide range of distances and sizes. Even with its two sensors and integrated projector, the camera measures just 150x45x45mm. 

The images captured can be analysed by all standard machine vision programs, such as Halcon. The interface required is included in the Ensenso's comprehensive software package, alongside an API for C, C++ and C#.