GigE, PoE, and SDKs: What Matters for 3D Vision Integration

When choosing a 3D vision system, its performance is only half the story; how easy it is to integrate it into your industrial environment is the other half. So, assessing its connectivity, power supply, and software is crucial as it determines how quickly a system can be deployed and how reliably it operates in production. In this article, we’ll examine why GigE, PoE, and SDK support matter when selecting a 3D vision system.

Reliable Data at Industrial Scale

Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) is standard for industrial vision systems, balancing bandwidth, distance, and reliability to enable high-resolution 3D data transfers over long cable runs (up to 100 m) using standard networking infrastructure, making it well-suited for factory floors and robotic cells. Just as important, GigE integrates cleanly with existing switches, NICs, and real-time systems, reducing integration friction.

What matters most: Stable throughout, deterministic behaviour, and compatibility with industrial networking hardware.

Simpler, Cleaner System Integration

Power over Ethernet (PoE) delivers both data and power over a single cable, reducing wiring complexity, lowering installation time, and improving overall reliability, making it much easier for system integrators to install devices. Few cables mean fewer failure points, especially in dynamic robotic applications where cable management is critical.

What matters most: Reduced system complexity, easier maintenance, and faster deployment.

Where Integration Really Happens

3D vision systems are effective only through software, so how easily an SDK is used influences how smoothly a 3D camera integrates into an existing automation setup. Support for common standards and frameworks, such as GenICam, ROS, or popular machine vision libraries, lets developers focus on application logic rather than low-level device control. Equally important are documentation and long-term software support to ensure the system's maintainability.

What matters most: Standard compliance, flexibility, documentation quality, and long-term support.

Our Solution

The Revopoint Surface Pro series of 3D cameras aligns well with these integration needs by offering GigE connectivity, PoE support, and developer-accessible SDKs all in one platform. This combo enables the Surface Pro series to integrate smoothly into existing industrial networks and software environments, providing system integrators with deployment flexibility without requiring customer workarounds.