HANK HOGAN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, [email protected]With prices falling and performance rising, 3D vision, or depth sensing, is showing up in new applications, including allowing robots to map places and tasks, such as figuring out how best to avoid people. Other uses include pick-and-place, combined assembly and inspection, and moving shelves of items from one location to another. These and other applications depend upon inexpensive and powerful 3D vision, and there are several competing technologies. All have strengths and weaknesses, with different working distances, resolutions, throughput, and price points. Each has a significant...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics MediaARTICLESThe Integration of Machine Vision with Motion Control Is Transforming Bin Picking, Part InspectionHistorically, robots have improved manufacturing processes through mechanical, repetitive motion. 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