Miniaturized smart cameras for 3D-imaging in real-time [mobile robot applications]

While our world is three-dimensional, today's cameras only allow for the acquisition of images that are two-dimensional. This paper presents a novel miniaturized 3D camera that delivers range images in video real-time. The camera is based on the time-of-flight (TOF) principle and under optimum conditions achieves a distance resolution of a few mm over a measurement range of several meters. The ability to capture the entire environment in three dimensions represents completely new possibilities, and many applications are expected to directly profit from this powerful imaging technology. In particular, in the field of mobile robotics, miniaturized 3D cameras enable the solution of navigation problems, such as obstacle avoidance, map building, localization, and path planning.