We covered Intel Realsense technology ever since it was unveiled at CES 2014 with a 3D depth camera and Nuance Dragon Assitant voice technology for various AI applications including robotics, digital signage, and 3D scanners. Our last post was in January 2021 about a Rockchip RK3399 based industrial-grade 3D vision camera together with Intel’s announcement of RealSense ID facial authentication.
But RealSense is going away according to a report by CRN explaining Intel was phasing out RealSense AI depth cameras. The email from Intel reads in part:
We are winding down our RealSense business and transitioning our computer vision talent, technology and products to focus on advancing innovative technologies that better support our core businesses and IDM 2.0 strategy
…
We will continue to meet our commitments to our current customers and are working with our employees and customers to ensure a smooth transition
The transition will be orderly as Intel is used to with its end-of-life notices, and “will honor current customer commitments” to existing customers. I could not find a Product Discontinuance notice yet, so we don’t know the exact schedule, but it’s typically spread over a 9-month period following the official announcement. As one may expect, the main reason for the decision was that RealSense cameras were only selling in small numbers, and it was not profitable.
CRN further explains Sagi Ben Moshe, the head of RealSense and general manager of Intel’s Emerging Growth and Incubation group, has left Intel after ten years of services about two weeks ago, and the company plans to apply the technical expertise and talent in computer vision it developed with RealSense to support other functions in the chipmaker’s core businesses. That could mean remaining engineers from the RealSense teams might now work on the OpenVINO toolkit for AI edge applications on Intel CPU, integrated graphics, as well as Intel Movidius based accelerators like the Intel Neural Compute Stick 2.
Via Slashdot (Thanks to Michael for the tip)
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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That’s a shame, I used to know a bunch of people making products around realsense cameras and they’re probably scrambling if they haven’t moved on to an alternative. Are there any off the shelf 3D camera alternatives these days?
There are a few, such as IDS in Germany and Point Grey Research for example. Intel were never very good at selling their cameras, so that may explain why they have given up.