Omron introduces the B5L series embedded ToF sensor module

     With the decline in the workforce in recent years and the control of social, home isolation and closed, crowded Spaces caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the market has put forward a higher demand for solutions that save or replace manpower. In this context, autonomous robots are not only used in industrial applications such as smart factories and logistics, but also increasingly in public facilities, hospitals, stations, and commercial complexes.

     In addition to simple tasks such as material handling, autonomous robots such as robotic arms can also perform more advanced tasks such as component assembly. In the face of these complex and varied application scenarios, the 3D vision module can accurately detect the surrounding environment to avoid people, obstacles and uneven surfaces, so as to achieve the autonomous operation of the machine or equipment. However, the limited detection range of cameras and 2D LiDAR used in traditional applications often requires the combination of multiple sensors, which presents challenges for more complex structures.

     Omron's new B5L series is a 3D ToF sensor module capable of measuring the distance between objects in real time in the range of 0.5m to 4.0m. The B5L series uses the principle of time-of-flight detection, while utilizing Omron's original optical design to achieve stable detection in direct sunlight (usually a weakness and difficulty of ToF sensors), which can detect the distance between objects more accurately in different scenes. The B5L series has a detection accuracy of ±2% (detection distance of 2m), is optimized for device embedding, and has the advantage of a long life equivalent of 5 years of continuous operation (according to Omron's evaluation methodology).