IDS Imaging's New Nion Camera Gives Robots Sharp 3D Vision at Real-World Speeds
A German industrial camera maker has launched a 3D sensor that tracks fast-moving objects in tricky lighting, aiming to make precise depth sensing practical on factory floors and in logistics warehouses.
Key points
- IDS Imaging launched the Nion 3D camera in series production in 2025, offering 1.2-megapixel depth imaging at 30 frames per second.
- The camera uses time-of-flight technology to measure distances from 0.3 to 7.5 metres and resists blur even on fast-moving objects.
- IDS, founded in 1997 and based in Obersulm, Germany, sells around 5,000 camera products worldwide.
- Nion carries an IP67 weatherproof rating and connects via a single Power over Ethernet cable, reducing installation complexity.
- The company positions the camera as an affordable first step into 3D vision for factories already running 2D camera systems.
IDS Imaging Development Systems, a German industrial camera maker, has released the Nion: a compact 3D camera designed for the demanding pace of real factory and warehouse environments. The company says it is available now in full production quantities.
What does this camera actually do?
Nion uses time-of-flight sensing, a technique where the camera fires invisible infrared light pulses and measures how long they take to bounce back from nearby objects, to build a depth map of everything in its field of view. Think of it like a bat's echolocation, but with light instead of sound.
The result is a picture where every pixel carries a distance reading, not just a colour. That lets a robot or automated system know exactly how far away an object is and how fast it is moving, even if the lighting changes or the object is moving quickly.
At 1.2 megapixels and 30 frames per second, Nion sits above typical low-resolution time-of-flight cameras used in industrial settings today. IDS says it captures fast-moving objects with virtually no motion blur, and that it works reliably indoors and outdoors, where stray sunlight can confuse cheaper sensors.
Why does this matter for automation?
For robots, reliable depth data is the difference between picking the right box and knocking everything off a conveyor belt. Current affordable 3D sensors often struggle in bright or changing light, or produce blurry readings when objects move fast. Nion's core sensor, onsemi's AF0130 chip from its Hyperlux ID family, is designed to address exactly those weaknesses.
"The Nion provides stable depth data even under variable lighting conditions," said Patrick Schick, IDS product manager for 3D vision. "This provides a solid foundation for automation processes that rely on fast and accurate 3D data."
IDS also notes that companies running existing 2D camera lines do not necessarily need to rip those out. Schick said depth data can be added on top of a 2D process where it helps, rather than replacing everything at once. That is a practical point for smaller manufacturers weighing the cost of upgrades.
What does the hardware look like?
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1.2 megapixels |
| Frame rate | 30 fps |
| Measurement range | 0.3 to 7.5 m (roughly 1 to 25 ft) |
| Weather protection | IP67 (dust-tight, immersion-resistant) |
| Connection | Power over Ethernet (single cable for power and data) |
| Sensor chip | onsemi AF0130 (Hyperlux ID family) |
IP67 means the housing is fully sealed against dust and can survive being briefly submerged in water, making it suitable for food production lines, outdoor logistics yards, or dusty factory settings. Power over Ethernet means a single cable carries both electricity and data, which cuts installation time and cabling costs.
What happens next?
Nion is shipping now. IDS has not published a retail price publicly, but positions the camera as a cost-effective entry point rather than a high-end specialist tool. Companies in logistics, robotics, and factory automation are the stated target customers, first reported by The Robot Report.
