Depth Camera
A depth camera is a specialized imaging device that captures distance information for each pixel in a scene, creating a depth map or point cloud. It uses technologies like structured light, time-of-flight (ToF), or stereo vision to measure the distance to objects, enabling 3D perception. This allows applications to understand spatial relationships and object geometry beyond traditional 2D imaging.
Developers should learn about depth cameras when building applications requiring 3D sensing, such as augmented reality (AR), robotics navigation, gesture recognition, or 3D scanning. They are essential for tasks like obstacle avoidance in autonomous systems, body tracking in fitness apps, and creating immersive experiences in gaming or virtual reality (VR).