RealSense: Pioneering 3D Vision for the Future 🌐

RealSense is launching on its own after 14 years of development within the massive semiconductor company Intel. 🚀

🔍 RealSense offers cameras with stereoscopic imaging, which adds depth by combining two images of the same object taken from different perspectives and enhancing them with infrared light. Robots, drones, and self-driving cars can all see the physical world more clearly thanks to this technology. Facial authentication is another use for the technology. 🖼️🔒

CEO Nadav Orbach told TechCrunch, “They all have one thing in common: they live in the real, physical world.” In order to take and plan actions in the real world, they must have a 3D understanding of their surroundings. And for that, they require a high-accuracy, real-time ability to comprehend the environment in three dimensions. And we excel at it. 💡

Orbach began working for Intel in Israel in 2006 as a CPU architect. Before relocating to San Francisco last year and taking on the role of general manager of incubation and disruptive innovation in 2022, he began working on vision technology in 2011. 🌍

Early Days of RealSense: Finding the Sweet Spot 🎯

Regarding the early days of RealSense, Orbach stated, “We knew and understood that 3D perception was going to be big.” Honestly, we weren’t entirely certain which domain it was. Before we finally discovered our sweet spot over the years, primarily in robotics, we experimented with that across a variety of market segments and applications, ranging from gesture recognition with computers and phones.

In addition to robotics, the company works with many other industries. According to Orbach, fish farms have contacted them in an attempt to monitor the volume within their pens. In collaboration with PreciTaste, an AI restaurant software company, Chipotle has also employed RealSense cameras to detect when food containers are running low. 🍟🤖

Over the past three to four years, as AI has advanced, RealSense, which has over 3,000 customers, has seen a sharp increase in new interest. As a result, robotics applications in particular have expanded. 📈

The business understood that if it spun out of Intel and raised its own funds, it might have a better chance of meeting demand and growing, according to Orbach. 💸

A New Chapter: Independence and Growth 🌱

Pat Gelsinger, the former CEO of Intel, approved the spinout plans that were conceived last year. In order to get started on its own, the now independent business raised a $50 million Series A funding round from Intel Capital and other key investors. 💰

“To be honest, it was exciting for me,” Orbach remarked. Even though I’ve been an executive for the company for a long time, this is the first time I’ve been on the other side of the table. As a new CEO, going to raise money was a really humbling experience for me.

The money will be used by RealSense to expand its go-to-market team and upgrade its technological capabilities. The company is especially focused on developing the technology to enhance access control and safety during human-robot interactions. 🛡️

“You know, stepping out has a learning curve,” Orbach stated. “I’m really thrilled about that. I am fortunate to have a very strong team that includes many individuals with entrepreneurial experience. With my experience and a few capable teammates, I believe we have the perfect combination for success. And it’s a dream come true for me.” 🌟