Ams OSram launches new 3D sensing products to equip robots with "hawk-eye"

Today, robots, cobots, and autonomous guided vehicles are becoming more advanced and capable of performing more tasks than in the past. Technological progress in the field of 3D sensor technology is an important force to promote the rapid development of this trend, especially in the field of infrared light sources, which play an important role. Ams OSram's latest Belago 1.1 lattice projection module integrates a VCSEL chip, a microlens array (MLA) and a compact, robust package to enable environmental sensing in active stereoscopic vision (ASV) systems for robots and autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs).

"Whether it is consumer robots such as intelligent sweeper and automatic lawn mower, industrial AGVs and autonomous mobile robots, they all need 'vision' when moving around the environment." Matthias Gloor, product manager at AMS Osram, explains, "Our Belago 1.1 dot matrix projection technology helps build a high-resolution panorama of the surrounding environment, enabling efficient obstacle detection in a package that can be easily integrated by the customer, thus providing the robot with precise visual functions."

Active stereovision uses two special infrared cameras to read patterns projected by the lattice onto a specific field of view that is invisible to the human eye. By comparing the perspective of the scene in the two cameras, the depth is calculated to generate a high-quality 3D image. If there is an object in front of the robot, it shows up on the 3D image and allows the robot to take action, such as stopping or going around an obstacle.

Microlens arrays provide special lattice patterns

The infrared VCSEL and a proprietary optical system (Microlens Array, MLA) were combined to produce 5,000 individual points of light to map a semi-random, high-density lattice model of Belago 1.1. This interaction also ensures that the two infrared cameras capture high-contrast images, which in turn guarantees high-quality images of the environment. Belago 1.1 emits light with a wavelength of 940 nanometers and achieves optical power up to 750 mW. The robot is able to reliably detect a route distance of 1-3 meters in real time, thus avoiding collisions.

The Belago 1.1 lattice projector combines the VCSEL chip, microlens array, and package in a single component, greatly reducing the integration effort of system manufacturers. The small size of 4.2mm x 3.6mm x 3.3mm makes it easy for customers to develop space-saving system designs. In addition, an independent security mechanism (called interlock) is integrated to ensure human eye safety. This mechanism is able to detect if the optics are damaged or removed, and if so, immediately turn off the light source.

The Belago 1.1 dot Matrix projector for 3D systems supports market applications that require high-resolution 3D maps, such as facial recognition authentication for access control and payment terminals. In addition, other future applications are also possible, such as the use of cameras to measure volume in logistics chains, gesture detection in consumer electronics such as games, home fitness, and device control.

To evaluate the 3D performance of the Belago 1.1 dot-matrix projector and the active stereoscopic vision system built into it, AMS Osram offers the Hermes 3D Camera Evaluation Kit. The kit is designed to assist customers in component and system evaluation. With an additional software development kit, Hermes can be easily integrated into a variety of environments to facilitate building proof-of-concept in the lab. In addition to Belago 1.1, AMS OSram has a portfolio of lighting modules and sensors for three major 3D sensing modes - active stereoscopic vision (ASV), Structured Light (SL) and Time of Flight (ToF).