Summary of AFFORDABLE PLUG-AND-PLAY LIDAR CAMERA: ONION TAU
Onion Corporation is crowdfunding the Onion Tau, a plug-and-play LiDAR depth camera that outputs 3D depth data via USB-C without needing extra computation. It features a Time-of-Flight sensor providing 160x60 resolution depth streams at 30fps within a 0.1 to 7-meter range. The system includes open-source Python and OpenCV-compatible APIs alongside a web-based point cloud viewer.
Parts used in the Onion Tau:
- LiDAR Time of Flight sensor
- USB-C connector
- Tau Camera unit with 4 mounting holes
- Web-based application for viewing point clouds
- Python library (open source)
- OpenCV-compatible API (open source)
Onion Corporation, the company best known for its computing and IoT connectivity devices is currently crowdfunding their LiDAR depth camera system named the Onion Tau. Onion Tau Camera is a 3D depth-sensing camera. It is capable of producing 3D depth data rather than color frames.
The company claims it to be a USB-based and plug-and-play 3D camera. It requires no additional computation to provide depth data. Plugging it into a computer with a USB cable is more than enough for it to start sending depth data to the computer via USB-C. The Tau holds the promise to become an affordable solution for the level beyond single-point depth sensing or one-dimensional scanning.
The LiDAR-style time-of-flight sensor in the camera outputs real-time 160 x 60 resolution depth data. It can also output a greyscale image of the scene. Most importantly, the range for depth sensing is 0.1 m to 7 m at a frame rate of 30fps. For real-time processing, Onion has promised a web-based application for viewing the point cloud along with a Python library and OpenCV-compatible application programming interface — both of which will be open source.
Specifications
- Depth Technology: LiDAR Time of Flight
- Depth Stream Output Resolution: 160 x 60
- Depth Stream Output Frame Rate: 30 fps
- Minimum Depth Distance: 0.1 meters
- Maximum Range: 7 meters
- Depth Field of View (FOV): 70° x 20°
- Connector: USB-C
- Tau Camera: 4 mounting holes
Read more: AFFORDABLE PLUG-AND-PLAY LIDAR CAMERA: ONION TAU
- How does the Onion Tau connect to a computer?
It connects via a USB cable, specifically using a USB-C connector for plug-and-play functionality. - What resolution does the depth stream output?
The camera outputs real-time depth data at a resolution of 160 x 60. - Can the camera produce color images?
No, it produces 3D depth data rather than color frames, though it can output a greyscale image of the scene. - What is the maximum depth sensing range?
The maximum range for depth sensing is 7 meters. - Does the Onion Tau require additional computation hardware?
No, it requires no additional computation as plugging it into a computer via USB is enough to start sending data. - What frame rate does the sensor operate at?
The sensor operates at a frame rate of 30 fps. - Are the software tools for the camera open source?
Yes, the Python library and OpenCV-compatible API are promised to be open source. - What is the field of view for the depth sensor?
The depth field of view is 70° x 20°.
