Creative coders, makers, and pioneering developers can now build the next generation of intelligent computing applications with Orbbec Persee

SEATTLE — (BUSINESS WIRE) — October 1, 2015 — Today Orbbec ( www.orbbec3d.com), a manufacturer of 3D technologies, unveiled Orbbec Persee, the world’s first “camera-computer.” Persee integrates the Orbbec Astra Pro 3D camera with a powerful ARM computer on a single device. It is a versatile, low-cost device that can fit in the palm of your hand. It can plug into a TV or run without a display, and people can interact with it entirely through the built-in 3D camera. From 3D digital art, to robots that recognize and respond to people and educational applications that fully engage students, creative coders, makers, and pioneering developers can use Persee to build inventive 3D applications.

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Orbbec Persee integrates a 720p high-definition 3D camera with a powerful ARM computer on a single device. (Photo: Business Wire)

Persee and the full line of Astra 3D cameras are available at deep discounts to supporters of the Orbbec Indiegogo campaign. Persee is priced as low as $179 and will ship in early 2016. Funds raised from the Indiegogo campaign will be used to mass produce the new device.

“We believe that the future of computing is 3D and all consumer devices will include 3D cameras in the near future,” said Howard Huang, founder and CEO of Orbbec. “Achieving this vision requires superb 3D cameras that are affordably priced and universally available. It also requires a world-class hardware and development platform, which we deliver with Orbbec Persee.”

Orbbec Persee: Setting the Bar for Intelligent Computing with Sight and Perception

Persee is a powerful device that will advance intelligent computing with the next generation of 3D applications and experiences. It includes a quad-core 1.8GHz ARM CPU, 600MHz GPU with OpenCL support, Wi-Fi and high-speed Ethernet, 2GB DDR3 RAM, and an embedded 16GB eMMC Flash.

“It’s clear that Orbbec ‘gets it’ and is supporting new forms of creative exploration,” said Golan Levin, director of the Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry and Associate Professor of Electronic Art at Carnegie Mellon University. “Persee is an altogether novel beast that will turn robotics on its ear and revolutionize how we track bodies in space. This is going to be hella fun.”

Laser-Focused on 3D

Orbbec is dedicated to getting 3D right, from producing superior 3D hardware to building a platform that enables creative coders and pioneering developers to deliver amazing 3D experiences. The company’s end-to-end investment in 3D technology includes a proprietary microchip that processes depth data in real time, and its own manufacturing line to control cost and quality. Orbbec sets the standard for 3D cameras based on the following key attributes:

• Highest Resolution – With smoother gradients, precise contours, and the ability to filter out low-quality depth pixels in a way other cameras cannot, Orbbec 3D cameras are exceptional for 3D scanning and point cloud development. Astra Pro includes a 720p HD color camera and the ability to stream data via USB 2.0.
• Longest Range – With a range of 0.4m - 8m, Orbbec 3D cameras are excellent for a wide range of scenarios, including gesture control, robotics, 3D scanning, and many new areas not possible until now.
• Exceptional Accuracy – Orbbec 3D cameras offer depth measurement accurate to within 0.5 centimeters at a distance of 2 meters, enabling developers to create apps with unparalleled clarity and precision.
• Lowest Latency –Astra Pro is the most responsive 3D camera on the market today. The time between action and response feels instantaneous. Applications will feel as active and alive as human interaction.

Activating the Developer Community

The multi-platform Orbbec Astra SDK enables developers to begin designing the next generation of interactive experiences. The Astra SDK supports Windows, Linux, OS X, and Android, as well as the creative coding framework Processing. Support for openFrameworks, Unity 3D, and Cinder is coming soon. The SDK is available at www.orbbec3d.com.

“Orbbec Persee is a long awaited, and much needed catalyst for the development of creative, intelligent computing experiences,” said George Barbastathis, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Singapore Research Professor of Optics at MIT. “Reaching this level of 3D sophistication, at an affordable price, is groundbreaking.”

To learn more about Orbbec and support the Indiegogo campaign, visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/orbbec-persee-world-s-first-3d-camera-computer. The campaign runs through October 30, 2015.