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2D & 3D Cobot Vision Systems

Vision systems are a key part of robotic automation—enabling robots to identify, locate, and interact with parts in dynamic and often unpredictable environments.

Whether guiding a robot to pick a part off a conveyor or locating randomly stacked objects in a bin, vision technology provides the spatial awareness needed for reliable and repeatable automation.

Electromate offers both 2D and 3D robotic vision systems from trusted partners like Cambrian Robotics and SensoPart. These technologies are designed to integrate seamlessly with collaborative and industrial robots, adding flexibility and intelligence to applications such as pick-and-place, machine tending, inspection, alignment, and bin picking.

By combining image processing with real-time robot control, these vision systems help reduce cycle times, minimize setup effort, and support higher part variability—making them a valuable tool for high-mix and short-run automation environments.

What is a 2D Vision System?

2D vision systems use contrast, shape, and edge detection in a single plane (X and Y) to interpret visual data. These systems rely on lighting and object contrast to identify part features, such as labels, barcodes, alignment marks, or component orientation on flat surfaces.

2d vision systems are best suited for:

Flat or structured parts with consistent presentation
Part presence/absence checks
Barcode and data matrix reading
Simple pick-and-place tasks on conveyors
Assembly inspection and alignment tasks

2D systems are compact, cost-effective, and easy to integrate, especially in applications where depth is not a critical factor.

What is a 3D Vision System?

3D vision systems capture spatial data in all three dimensions (X, Y, and Z), allowing robots to perceive the depth, orientation, and exact location of an object—even when it’s randomly stacked or overlapping with others. These systems often use structured light, stereo cameras, or time-of-flight sensors to generate point clouds or depth maps.

3D vision systems are best suited for:

Bin picking of loosely arranged or overlapping parts
Handling of complex or irregularly shaped objects
Variable or cluttered environments
Applications requiring collision-free path planning
Tasks that require height or volume measurement

3D vision is essential for unstructured or high-mix environments where the robot needs to adapt to varied part orientations and unpredictable object placement.

Choosing Between 2D and 3D Vision

For structured tasks with controlled environments, 2D vision provides a simple and reliable solution. For dynamic environments or tasks involving depth, 3D vision offers the flexibility and precision required to achieve consistent results.

Consideration	2D Vision System	3D Vision System
Object presentation	Consistently placed or flat objects	Random, stacked, or variable orientation
Required dimensional accuracy	X and Y plane only	Full X, Y, Z spatial awareness
Environmental control	Works best in stable lighting conditions	Handles variable lighting and clutter
Application type	Barcode reading, alignment, presence checks	Bin picking, depalletizing, complex picking
Integration complexity	Lower setup and calibration effort	Higher setup; more robust in dynamic settings
Cost and performance trade-off	Economical, faster for simple tasks	Higher cost, more capable in complex tasks