ToF camera is a very advanced ranging device that replaces a standard point-by-point laser beam with a pulse or flash of light for full spatial perception. ToF cameras can sense the time it takes for light to return from any surrounding object, combine it with video data, and create a real-time 3D image. It can also be used to track facial or hand movements, map rooms, remove backgrounds from images, and even overlay 3D objects in images.
What are the advantages of ToF camera?
As an emerging technology, ToF or 3DFlash LIDAR has many advantages over traditional point (single pixel) scanner cameras and stereo cameras, including the following.
Simple
ToF cameras are very compact compared to stereo vision or triangulation systems: the lighting is only placed next to the lens, while other systems require a certain minimum baseline. In contrast to laser scanning systems, no mechanical moving parts are required. One of the advantages of ToF cameras is that they can synthesize a 3D image of a scene with a single shot. Other 3D vision systems require more images and motion.
Efficient
Extracting distance information from the output signal of the ToF camera is a straightforward process. As a result, the task uses only a small amount of processing power, whereas for stereo vision, implementing complex correlation algorithms requires more energy and more processing power. Object detection is also a simple process after extracting distance data, as the algorithm is not disturbed by object patterns.
Speed
ToF cameras can measure distances across the entire scene in a single pass. Since the camera can achieve 160 frames per second, it is ideal for use in real-time applications.
Price
Compared to other 3D depth range scanning technologies such as structured light camera/projector systems or laser rangefinders, ToF technology is very cheap.
ToF is one of the few technologies known as range imaging. Sensor devices used to generate range images are sometimes referred to as range cameras. Other ranging techniques are stereo triangulation, light sheet triangulation, structured light, interferometry, and coded apertures. ToF camera technology has a huge advantage over other technologies because of its ability to measure distances within a complete scene.
