02 - ifm: Edge device for image processing
ifm has developed the O3R hardware platform for the field of mobile robotics, which makes both preliminary and series development easier for developers thanks to the software environment, software tools and interfaces. The central component is an edge device that provides both high computing power and the ability to easily connect a wide variety of sensors. A total of up to six 3D cameras and numerous other sensors can be connected. The camera connection is made via FDP-Link, while GigE interfaces are available for the other sensors. CAN interfaces ensure integration into the architecture of a mobile robot. A Linux system equipped with an NVIDIA Video Processing Unit forms the hardware basis. As the performance of this GPU is scalable, it can be adapted to the respective application. The system can be integrated into robotics applications using the available ROS2 drivers. As image processing is carried out in the edge device, hardly any data processing is required in the camera itself, which means that multiple cameras can be used. ifm offers suitable camera heads, 3D sensors or a combination of 3D and 2D sensors with different aperture angles and resolutions.