Eliminate Risks and Delays in Vision System Development

Basler expands its 3D portfolio with the Stereo mini, a compact, lightweight, and cost-efficient camera developed specifically for robotics and logistics applications. With dimensions of just 90 × 25 × 30 mm and a weight starting at 97 g, it is particularly suitable for integration into AMRs, AGVs, robotic systems, and compact automation solutions where installation space and weight are limited.

The Stereo mini provides reliable depth information for short to medium ranges of 0.25–10 m. It is available with 50 and 95 mm baselines, allowing users to select the appropriate version for their application.

• Ultra-compact & lightweight – 90 × 25 × 30 mm, from just 97 g
• Reliable 3D depth capture – Factory-calibrated stereo geometry
• Two baselines – 50 and 95 mm for short to medium depth ranges
• Flexible connectivity – USB 3.0, GigE and GMSL
• Easy integration – Full integration into the Basler pylon SDK
• Versatile applications – Navigation, obstacle detection, pick-and-place, dimensioning and inventory management

Reliable Depth Data for Mobile Robots

The Stereo mini uses the stereo vision principle to capture reliable 3D information. Two synchronized image sensors observe the scene from slightly different perspectives. The differences between the images are used to calculate a depth map, which can be converted into a 3D point cloud. For surfaces with little natural structure, depth measurement can also be supported by projecting additional texture, depending on the model and application.

This makes the Stereo mini particularly useful for AMRs and AGVs, where precise information about the surrounding environment is essential for navigation. The camera captures the surrounding environment and provides current depth information to support collision avoidance and spatial orientation.

Unlike conventional 2D scanners, 3D vision can also detect obstacles at different heights, such as protruding parts of objects that may lie outside a 2D scanning plane. The Stereo mini can therefore complement other sensors used for robot navigation and environmental perception.

Beyond mobile robot navigation, the Stereo mini supports a wide range of warehouse and intralogistics tasks where accurate spatial information can improve automation.

Use the Stereo mini for:

• Dimensioning and verification: Measure objects and loads, determine fill levels, perform completeness checks, and identify misaligned or deformed contents.
• Pallet and load carrier handling: Detect pallets and load carriers and determine their position and alignment during approach.
• Robotic grasping: Support pick-and-place operations and hand-eye coordination at close working distances.
• Inventory automation: Support automated stock monitoring and warehouse processes with spatial 3D information.

Different interfaces allow the Stereo mini to fit a wide range of system architectures. USB 3.0 provides high frame rates and straightforward plug-and-play setup. GigE enables data transmission over distances of up to 100 m and simplifies multi-camera installations. GMSL2 is suited to embedded systems, providing high frame rates and transmission distances of up to 15 m.

The camera is fully integrated into the Basler pylon SDK, allowing developers to work with established APIs for C++, C#, Python, and other programming languages. The pylon Viewer also enables immediate checking of camera functionality and settings during commissioning.