3D Vision Opens The Tech Space To New Possibilities

Equipping robots with 3D vision has long been a costly, bulky addition to the machines, making it a luxury that most consumer devices can't afford. However, cheap new processors that support 3D vision will bring the technology to a host of electronics, something that could

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, Google's parent company, is one firm looking to take its tech offerings to the next level by adding 3D vision. The firm is planing to use the advanced sight on drones that it will use to make deliveries in order to help the aircraft avoid collision. While the FAA's approval of delivery drones is unlikely in the near future, Alphabet also plans to incorporate 3D vision into its Android phones as early as next year. 3D vision, the firm says, could replace GPS as a way to pinpoint the phone's location as it has the potential to be much more accurate. The technology would also be able to display digital objects within images of the real world using augmented reality. That could make it possible for users to do things like test whether or not furniture would fit in a room or map out specific locations.

has created its own version of computer-vision technology called RealSense, which it has incorporated into laptops and tablets in order to allow people to print miniature 3D models or add multi-dimension images to computer games. The technology has gained momentum since the firm first began developing it back in 2011 with just 25 dedicated employees. Today Intel has 500 staff members working on RealSense.