OAK-D (Lite)

A small depth camera that combines stereo vision with an onboard AI processor.
The OAK-D can be used for 3D scanning because it produces RGB + depth maps that you can turn into a point cloud and mesh. You move the camera around an object or space, capture overlapping frames, and then stitch them together with software (e.g. Open3D, MeshLab, or ROS).

But: it’s not the preferred tool for 3D scanning.

• Accuracy is lower than LiDAR or photogrammetry.

• Shiny/transparent surfaces don’t scan well.

• Range is limited (~10 m).

It’s great for real-time depth perception and robotics, but for high-quality 3D models you’d usually go with photogrammetry or LiDAR.

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• How it works:

  • Two synchronized monochrome cameras capture slightly different views of the same scene.

  • Depth is computed by comparing the disparity (shift) between the two images.

  • An onboard neural depth engine accelerates the calculations, so the host computer doesn’t have to.

  • Optionally, an RGB camera provides color overlays on the depth map.

• Key features:

  • Depth range: ~0.3 m – 10 m.

  • Field of view: ~70–80°.

  • USB-C powered, plug-and-play.

  • Runs AI models (object detection, face recognition, body pose estimation) directly on the device.

• Why it matters for stereo vision:

  • Demonstrates that stereo vision can be compact, affordable, and real-time.

  • Doesn’t need external GPUs/CPUs for heavy lifting.

  • Provides a good bridge between basic stereo rigs (like DIY dual webcams) and advanced research hardware (like ZED cameras).

• Use cases:

  • Robotics navigation.

  • Human pose tracking.

  • AR/VR prototyping.

  • Object recognition combined with depth.
    

Here's info on how to use it in Touchdesigner: https://derivative.ca/UserGuide/OAK-D
The example file is OAKExamples.toe. Instructions and tips are inside the file. The file is located in C:/Program Files/Derivative/TouchDesigner.2023.xxxxx/Samples/OAK.