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The brand new Intel RealSense D421 Depth Module. | Credit score: Intel
Regardless of all of the turmoil round Intel Corp., the corporate surprisingly expanded its line of Intel RealSense depth modules for robotics functions. Right this moment, it launched the entry-level Intel RealSense Depth Module D421.
The firm stated it’s designed to convey superior depth sensing to a wider viewers at an reasonably priced worth. The all-in-one stereo depth module is presently obtainable for pre-orders for $800 per 10-pack. Pre-orders will ship in November, based on Intel.
Intel added that the brand new D421 is the primary all-in-one module integrating the D4 imaginative and prescient processor with the optical module on the identical board. The D4 imaginative and prescient processor does all depth calculations onboard, making this a low-power, platform-agnostic machine, it claimed.
The D421 depth module provides a 75° × 50° subject of view, a really useful vary of 0.2 to three m (0.6 to 9.8 ft.), and 1 megapixel international shutter depth sensors.
Intel additionally stated the D421 depth module options plug-and-play performance and compatibility with fashionable improvement frameworks. It’s supported by the Intel RealSense SDK 2.0 and works with a spread of platforms and working techniques, together with Home windows, Linux, and Android.
The D421 is 95 × 32 × 10.18 mm (3.7 x 1.2 x 0.4 in.) in dimension (LxHxD) and makes use of a USB-c connection sort. Intel stated the D4 imaginative and prescient processor is an application-specific built-in circuit (ASIC) that may course of as much as 36.6 million pixels per second in a small footprint in actual time.
The corporate asserted that the D421 is appropriate for a wide range of robots, together with autonomous cell robots (AMR), humanoids, robotic arms for choosing functions, and extra.
Intel stated its line of digital camera modules supply clients nearer integration and a extra versatile kind issue, in addition to decrease value, compared with its depth cameras. The desk under provides a fast comparability of Intel’s depth modules and processors:
Open the picture in a brand new tab to enlarge. Credit score: Intel
Intel’s struggles
Intel has made a number of missteps over the previous a number of years that despatched its inventory plunging. It has fallen considerably behind within the synthetic intelligence race, trailing opponents comparable to NVIDIA and AMD, which have capitalized on the present hype round generative AI.
After a disappointing Q2 monetary earnings report, Intel stated it is going to be shedding 15,000 staff and halting non-essential work. Nonetheless, the corporate has acquired some optimistic information the previous few days.
It landed a deal to make AI chips for Amazon and introduced a plan to spin off its foundry enterprise. There are experiences that Qualcomm needs to purchase Intel, and that individually Apollo World Administration needs to take a position as much as $ billion in Intel.
Intel and Apollo have a pre-existing relationship. In June, the chipmaker bought Apollo an $11 billion stake in its Eire manufacturing facility.
These monetary woes are partially why it’s stunning to see Intel introduce a brand new depth module for robotics, which is a small a part of Intel’s total enterprise. It’s additionally stunning as a result of in August 2021, Intel had introduced it was shutting down its RealSense division, catching many people inside and outdoors of Intel abruptly.
Nonetheless, it finally modified course and solely stopped producing sure RealSense merchandise.
The robotics trade has lengthy been using a curler coaster when looking for low-cost, high-quality depth sensing. It’s good to see Intel nonetheless specializing in robotics and never turning into one other Microsoft Kinect or Mission Tango.
