I’m stealing @Levi-Armstrong’s (and/or @JeremyZoss’) thunder a bit, but just thought I’d start a topic about the ‘new Kinect’ that MS has just announced: Microsoft announces Project Kinect for Azure with its next-generation depth camera (random link to VentureBeat article). MS site here: Project Kinect for Azure.
Some impressive specs (copied from the VB article):
- 1024×1024 depth image resolution
- Highest Figure of Merit (highest modulation frequency and modulation contrast resulting in low power consumption with overall system power of 225-950mw)
- Automatic per pixel gain selection enabling large dynamic range allowing near and far objects to be captured cleanly
- Global shutter allowing for improved performance in sunlight
- Multiphase depth calculation method enables robust accuracy even in the presence of chip, laser and power supply variation
- Low peak current operation even at high frequency lowers the cost of modules
The depth image resolution will probably require GPU accelerated processing, as the Kinect2 was already enough to bring many machines to their knees.
Edit: some other articles/links: