FAQs for the Tau Camera
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A collection of frequently asked questions about the Tau LiDAR Camera:
- What is the Tau Camera's power consumption?
- What devices are compatible with the Tau Camera? Can I used it with the Omega2? How about the Raspberry Pi?
- Does the Tau Camera still work in direct sunlight?
- Is the Python API available? What about the Tau Studio web app?
- What is the depth resolution? As in the minimum differential distance between two levels
- What's the best way to mount the Tau Camera?
- What is the operating temperature range for the Tau Camera?
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What is the Tau Camera's power consumption?
The Tau Camera's power consumption measures about 250mA@5V from the connected USB power source.
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What devices are compatible with the Tau Camera? Can I use it with the Omega2? How about the Raspberry Pi?
The Tau Camera is compatible with any computer with a USB port. Computer here implies having an operating system.
The Python API and Tau Studio web app both require Python (the full version).It might be possible to connect the Tau Camera to a Microcontroller with a serial/USB port, but will likely need some experimentation.
Omega2 Compatibility
Yes, the Tau Camera is compatible with the Omega2.
Programs built with the TauLidarCamera Python library and that do not require OpenCV will work just fine.Raspberry Pi Compatibility
Yes, the Tau Camera is 100% compatible with the Raspberry Pi
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Does the Tau Camera still work in direct sunlight?
The Tau Camera does work well in direct sunlight, see an example here: https://www.crowdsupply.com/onion/tau-lidar-camera#works-independently-of-ambient-light
Users can adjust the integration time and minimal amplitude using the API to further refine outdoor performance.
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Is the Python API available? What about the Tau Studio web app?
All of the software built for the Tau Camera is open source and available on GitHub:
- Tau Studio web app - https://github.com/OnionIoT/tau-lidar-server
- TauLidarCamera Python API - https://github.com/OnionIoT/tau-lidar-camera
- TauLidarCommon Python Library (a helper library) - https://github.com/OnionIoT/tau-lidar-common
And there's documentation available as well:
- TauLidarCamera Python API Documentation - https://taulidarcamera.readthedocs.io
- TauLidarCommon Python Library Documentation - https://taulidarcommon.readthedocs.io
We welcome all feedback and suggestions! Please make an issue or PR on GitHub!
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What is the depth resolution? As in the minimum differential distance between two levels
The Tau Camera's theoretical differential depth level is on the millimeter level. However, the effective differential depth is on the centimeter level depending on the level of noise.
To get down to the millimeter level of granularity an effective noise suppression algorithm must be used.
To be more specific, the depth accuracy is within +/-2% of the measuring distance. The closer camera is to the object, the lower the error will be. For the range of 100mm to 2000mm, the depth accuracy would be under +/-20mm.
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What's the best way to mount the Tau Camera?
Use the 4 mounting holes to secure your Tau Camera to a mount or enclosure.
If you're in need of a quick solution, we've published a design for a 3D printed mount.
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What is the operating temperature range for the Tau Camera?
All of the components used in the Tau LiDAR Camera are rated for -40° to 85°C
