Three-dimensional imaging is a rapidly expanding segment of the machine vision market. New methods and improvements to old methods are quickly saturating the market to fill this need. Proven methods such as structured light, stereo vision, time of flight, and laser profiling are all effective methods in their own right. Another, more current method uses a random pattern generator projected onto the surface of an object in addition to traditional stereo vision.
As many companies expand into the 3D imaging space for the first time, we must help define and refine important questions when assisting a client in setting up a 3D imaging system.