Nikon Corporation is adding a 3D vision tracking feature to its robot vision system through a software update. The feature uses 3D cameras to measure workpieces moving on a conveyor or other transport equipment, and it needs no additional hardware such as an encoder.
Nikon's existing 2D vision tracking follows changes in a workpiece's position and speed within a flat plane. The 3D version also detects inclination, attitude, and orientation, then moves the robot to the optimal position and angle. Because the system can register multiple process positions on a workpiece, Nikon says it can pick parts in random orientations and assemble them under significant vibration.
For manufacturing and automation engineers, the change targets lines where Nikon says random workpiece positions and orientations still make manual labor unavoidable. Dropping the encoder also removes the need to synchronize the robot with the conveyor, AGV, or AMR carrying the part.
Nikon credits the image-processing speed it developed for its camera products. According to the company's product page, the system's 2D and 3D cameras process images at up to 250 fps. Auto-calibration and path setting are meant to cut setup time, and Nikon says workpieces can be added in under 20 minutes, a figure measured in its own environment with its own workpieces.
The system has two parts: a sensor (camera) and an engine (control PC). It handles vision tracking and bin picking. Nikon has been developing and introducing it since October 2024, and the lineup also includes lightweight, compact models built for 2D vision tracking only.
Nikon will show the 3D vision tracking feature at Factory Innovation Week 2026 SMART FACTORY Expo at Aichi Sky Expo, running November 25–27.
