The Intel RealSense D421 Depth Module. | Credit score: Intel
We had been just a little stunned in mid-September 2024 with the launch of the entry-level Intel RealSense Depth Module D421. With the current monetary turmoil and adjustments on the firm, there was uncertainty whether or not Intel would proceed to spend money on the product line.
Effectively, at the moment The Robotic Report realized extra in regards to the plans for the road of depth cameras. Intel is spinning out RealSense as an unbiased firm. Intel mentioned this might be performed within the first half of 2025, with the brand new enterprise being an Intel Capital portfolio firm.
“After ten years of incubation, Intel is unleashing the potential of the Intel RealSense laptop vision-AI portfolio in a standalone ICAP portfolio firm by the primary half of 2025,” Intel mentioned in an announcement to The Robotic Report. “We’re dedicated to making sure a clean transition for our prospects and proceed to supply help all through the method.”
That is all we all know for the time being. Now we have reached out to Intel to be taught extra and can move alongside extra data when it turns into out there.
RealSense has at all times been a small a part of Intel’s enterprise. It possible benefitted from the monetary stability and intensive sources of Intel. Working inside a tech big’s ecosystem supplied a security internet for R&D, in addition to entry to an unlimited community of business companions.
Will all that maintain true as a standalone firm? Will the brand new RealSense want to boost outdoors funding?
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New chapter for RealSense
Intel RealSense depth cameras are a well-liked alternative for builders of cell robots and industrial pick-and-place robots. Intel particulars some robotics prospects on its web site. One instance is ANYbotics‘ ANYmal quadruped. In keeping with Intel, every ANYmal robotic has six Intel RealSense D435 modules that work collectively to create an elevation map that helps the robotic navigate round a web site and traverse tough terrain, together with climbing stairs.
How will this new independence have an effect on the boldness of its present prospects? We’ll have to attend and see.
We do know that is one more new chapter in what’s been a three-and-a-half-year saga crammed with twists and turns. In August 2021, Intel surprised the robotics business by saying it was shutting down RealSense to deal with core companies. This even caught inside RealSense leaders abruptly on the time.
Nonetheless, Intel rapidly reversed course, opting to maintain RealSense alive however with a diminished lineup.
The robotics business has lengthy been driving a curler coaster when trying to find low-cost, high-quality depth sensing. With RealSense spinning out as a standalone firm, this narrative takes one other stunning flip. RealSense is free of Intel’s restructuring priorities, however independence will most actually introduce new challenges.
This actually isn’t Intel’s first time spinning off an organization. In December 2024, after going through declining income, Intel introduced it will spin off its foundry enterprise. Mobileye, an autonomous car developer, spun off from Intel in October 2022. Intel acquired Mobileye in 2017 for $15.3 billion, and on the time it was the biggest acquisition ever of an Israeli firm. Mobileye was based in 1999.
Intel started producing depth-sensing merchandise beneath its Perceptual Computing division in 2013. Intel rebranded this group as Intel RealSense in 2014.
