Persee N1 3D camera module from Orbbec uses NVIDIA Jetson

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Orbbec’s Persee N1, which currently retails for $499.99. | Source: Orbbec

Orbbec Inc. has released the Persee N1, which it claimed is “an all-in-one combination of a popular stereo-vision 3D camera and a purpose-built computer based on the NVIDIA Jetson platform.” The company said its latest product delivers accurate and reliable data for indoor and semi-outdoor operations.

The Persee N1 is equipped with industry-standard interfaces for useful accessories and data connections, said Orbbec. The Troy, Mich.-based company added that the camera module also gives developers access to the benefits of the Ubuntu OS and Open Computer Vision (OpenCV) libraries. 

According to industry reports, an estimated 89% of all embedded vision projects use OpenCV. Orbbec said that this integration marks the beginning of a deeper collaboration between it and Open Source Vision Foundation, the nonprofit that operates OpenCV. 

“The Persee N1 features robust support for the industry-standard computer vision and AI toolset from OpenCV,” said Dr. Satya Mullick, CEO of OpenCV, in a release. “OpenCV and Orbbec have entered a partnership to ensure OpenCV compatibility with Orbbec’s powerful new devices and are jointly developing new capabilities for the 3D vision community.”

Persee N1 ready for edge AI and robotics

By delivering accurate data, Persee N1 is suitable for robotics, retail, healthcare, dimensioning, and interactive gaming applications, said Orbbec. 

The Persee N1 designed to be easy to set up using the Orbbec software development kit (SDK) and Ubuntu-based software environment, the company explained. It includes a Gemini 2 camera, based on active stereo IR technology, as well as Orbbec’s custom ASIC for high-quality, in-camera depth processing. 

It also includes the NVIDIA Jetson platform for edge AI and robotics. Orbbec recently became an NVIDIA Partner Network (NPN) Preferred Partner, deepening its relationship with NVIDIA. 

“The self-contained Persee N1 camera-computer makes it easy for computer vision developers to experiment with 3D vision,” stated Amit Banerjee, head of platform and partnerships at Orbbec. “This combination of our Gemini 2 RGB-D camera and the NVIDIA Jetson platform for edge AI and robotics allows AI development while at the same time enabling large-scale, cloud-based commercial deployments.”

The Persee N1 has HDMI and multiple USB ports for easy connections to a monitor and keyboar, said Orbbec. The USB ports also allow for data, and the camera module has a Power over Ethernet (POE) port for combined data and power connections. It also features MicroSD and M.2 slots for expandable storage. 

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Orbbec strengthens partnerships

With the release of Persee N1, Orbbec said it is strengthening its relationships with NVIDIA and OpenCV, both huge players in the robotics space. 

In August, Orbbec released a product line collaboration with Microsoft. The companies based this suite of products on Microsoft’s indirect time-of-flight (iTOF) depth-sensing technology that it brought to market with the HoloLens 2.

The cameras combine Microsoft’s iToF with Orbbec’s high-precision depth camera design and in-house manufacturing capabilities. 

Earlier this year, Orbbec also released a 3D camera SDK Programming Guide that uses ChatGPT. The guide allows developers to create their applications and sample codes by talking to ChatGPT.