1. Do I need a camera for navigation in my robotics application?

Not always. Simple navigation can rely on LiDAR, radar or ToF sensors, but cameras add contextual information such as landmarks, obstacles and visual cues. Most advanced navigation systems combine cameras with other sensors through sensor fusion.

2. Which camera types are commonly used to detect and avoid objects?

RGB and monochrome cameras are widely used for object detection, often combined with depth information from stereo vision or ToF. Global shutter cameras are preferred when motion accuracy is critical.

3. When should I use a global shutter instead of a rolling shutter?

Use global shutter for fast motion, navigation, and precise measurement to avoid distortion. Rolling shutter is suitable for static scenes and cost-sensitive applications where motion artefacts are acceptable.

4. What is the maximum cable length for a MIPI camera?

Standard MIPI CSI-2 is designed for short distances, typically up to 30 cm inside a device. For longer distances, MIPI over type-C or serialised interfaces such as GMSL or FPD-Link are used.

5. Can a camera replace other sensors in a robot?

Cameras provide rich visual information but cannot reliably replace all other sensors. Depth, motion and redundancy requirements often demand additional sensing technologies such as IMUs, LiDAR or ToF.

6. Do I need colour (RGB) or monochrome cameras?

Monochrome cameras offer higher sensitivity and contrast, making them suitable for low-light or inspection tasks. RGB cameras are useful when colour information is required for classification or interaction.

7. When does 3D vision become necessary?

3D vision is required when distance, volume or spatial relationships must be understood, such as in navigation, manipulation or collision avoidance. It can be implemented using stereo vision, structured light or ToF sensors.

8. Should image processing run in the camera or on the robot controller?

Running processing in-camera reduces latency and bandwidth but limits flexibility. Processing on the robot controller allows more complex algorithms and easier updates, at the cost of higher data transfer.

9. How do lighting conditions affect camera selection?

Lighting strongly influences image quality. Sensor sensitivity, shutter type and spectral range (visible, IR, NIR or SWIR) must be matched to expected lighting conditions.

10. How important is camera interface selection for vision performance?

Very important. Interface choice affects bandwidth, latency, cable length and system robustness, and should be selected together with the sensor and processing architecture.