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. --------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 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 .