Human vision is unique in terms of our ability to perceive the world in all its complexity and filter out and process important information from the endless stream of sensory input within fractions of a second – all without requiring much energy at all. This amazing ability inspired the technology underpinning the DVXplorer neuromorphic camera. Its dynamic vision processing system is characterised by extremely fast reaction times of less than one millisecond, a high dynamic range and low power consumption. This has been made possible by the development of the Dynamic Vision Platform, a combination of hardware and software centred around a patented vision sensor chip. This chip replicates the key aspects of the human retina. Thanks to the neuromorphic pixel design, it only reacts to changes in light at the pixel level and transmits the images with a time resolution in the microsecond range. DVXplorer thus offers the performance of a high-speed camera running at thousands of images a second – yet produces far fewer data, as a significant proportion of the data processing already occurs within the sensor. Such real-time reactivity is required for augmented reality applications, autonomous driver-assistance systems and industrial robots, for example. DVXplorer can also be used for gesture recognition, data-protection-compliant and energy-saving surveillance and fast tracking of barcodes and other objects in motion.
Statement by the Jury
The DVXplorer neuromorphic camera is inspiring in its implementation of pioneering yet mass-production-ready technology for dynamic image-processing, making it much faster and more efficient than conventional camera systems. It impressively combines functional complexity with extremely compact dimensions and a minimalist design offset only by fine, purple-coloured lines.
