Intel’s RealSense 3D camera technology allows smartphone and tablet users to snap photos and adjust the depth-of field after the fact. Another version of RealSense allows you to interact with a laptop or desktop computer using 3D gestures — by waving your hands in front of the device without touching it.
Now Intel wants developers to do something else with its RealSense cameras: build robots, drones, and other semi-autonomous devices.
The company unveiled a new Robotic Development Kit and Aero Kit (for drones) during the Intel Developer Forum in Shenzhen this week, and the Robot kit is already available for pre-order for $250 .
The Robotic Development Kit includes a RealSense Camera (R200) which can detect motion up to 4 meters (13 feet) away, and which can capture infrared/depth imagery at VGA resolutions up to 60 frames per second and 1080p RGB imagery at 30 frames per second.
The kit also comes with a tiny computer-on-a-module called the UP Board (sold separately for $89 and up)Â that looks a bit like a Raspberry Pi, but which has an Intel Atom Cherry Trail processor instead of an ARM-based chip.
Intel’s Robotic Development Kit specs include:
- Atom x5-Z8350 processor
- Intel HD graphics
- 4GB od DDR3L-1600 RAM
- 32GB eMMC storage
- 1 USB 3.0 port
- 4 USB 2.0 ports
- Gigabit Ethernet
- HDMI 1.4b
- 40-pin connector
- real-time-clock
- CSI interface for 4MP camera
- Ubuntu Linux (although Windows 10 is also supported)
Measuring 85.6mm x 56.6mm (3.37″ x 2.22″) the Robotic kit is slightly larger than a Raspberry Pi, but still small enough to be described as credit-card sized.
Intel expects to begin shipping the kit in June. Don’t need the RealSense camera? You can pre-order a 4GB/32GB UP Board for $129.
PC World reports that the upcoming Aero kit will have an Atom x7-Z8700 processor and run embedded Linux software. It’s expected to be available in the second half of 2016.
thanks roi ziss!