Stereo cameras

The stereo cameras approach is a method of distilling a noisy video signal into a coherent data set that a computer can begin to process into actionable symbolic objects, or abstractions.

Correctly locating the point gives the computer the capability to calculate the distance that the robot or camera is from the object.

[2] This type of stereoscopic image processing technique is used in applications such as 3D reconstruction,[3] robotic control and sensing, crowd dynamics monitoring and off-planet terrestrial rovers; for example, in mobile robot navigation, tracking, gesture recognition, targeting, 3D surface visualization, immersive and interactive gaming.

[4] Although the Xbox Kinect sensor is also able to create a depth map of an image, it uses an infrared camera for this purpose, and does not use the dual-camera technique.

Other approaches to stereoscopic sensing include time of flight sensors and ultrasound.

Artist's concept of a Mars Exploration Rover , an example of an unmanned land-based vehicle. Notice the stereo cameras mounted on top of the rover.