Aug. 10, 2021
"We believe all robotics or human technology is an anthropomorphic state. Humans acquire 83% of information through their eyes, and what we solve is the 'eyes' problem for robots," stated Frank Xu, Senior Marketing Director of Sunny OIT.
During the recently concluded 7th China Robot Summit, Frank Xu explained to reporters that Sunny OIT, spun off from the optical product manufacturer Sunny Group, provides 3D depth vision system solutions for the robotics field. Its core business focuses on two major categories of depth vision products: "recognition" and "positioning."
How does "intelligent optics" collaborate within the robotics field? Frank Xu pointed out that most current robot behaviors are based on pre-defined programming, allowing them to operate only within limited boundaries. When faced with uncertainties, they often fail to respond effectively. Consequently, the industry is applying AI algorithms to robots, hoping they can solve this problem.
It is well-known that the greatest appeal of AI algorithms lies in deep learning. However, deep learning requires massive amounts of data for training. Relying solely on manual annotation and "feeding" of data results in very slow efficiency.
Addressing this challenge, Frank Xu stated that robots need to "learn" autonomous learning. "This represents Sunny OIT's most significant contribution: providing robots with 'intelligent eyes.' Through AI algorithms and deep learning capabilities, we enable robots to self-learn based on visual input. This allows them to adapt to changes in space, object form, position, and other factors, achieving recognition and timely obstacle avoidance."
We note that the blue ocean market for robot depth vision continues to expand. Compared to other players in the market, what gives Sunny OIT its competitive edge? Frank Xu provided three key points:
"Firstly, Sunny OIT possesses profound optical expertise. We deeply understand industry application requirements, and our in-house R&D enables broader application scope and perspectives. Secondly, leveraging powerful algorithms, Sunny OIT can effectively filter environmental noise and perform data filtering processing, resulting in cleaner, more reliable data. Finally, Sunny OIT achieves mass production with high consistency across products. This allows one algorithm suite to be applicable across multiple industries."
The machine vision industry already hosts a significant number of players. Relevant data shows that in 2019 alone, 819 new companies entered China's machine vision sector. Even in 2020, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, 637 new enterprises were established.
Regarding the market, data from the China Machine Vision Industry Union indicates China's machine vision industry sales reached approximately 11.3 billion yuan in 2020. Frank Xu told reporters that the market prospects for machine vision, particularly represented by 3D depth vision, are exceptionally broad.
Compared to the substantial market size, the potential for advancement in 3D vision technology might be even greater. Frank Xu explained that the human eye possesses around 500 million pixels and can process 3D color images in real-time. Currently, even the most advanced technology cannot match this capability; in terms of pixels, mainstream solutions are typically around 300,000 pixels.
Frank Xu further added, "Processing color information consumes significant computational power. Reducing this computational load is a key research direction we are persistently focused on." He emphasized that Sunny OIT continuously monitors advancements in backend AI computational power and algorithmic sophistication, as both will play crucial roles in propelling the future development of the 3D depth vision industry.
Currently, Sunny OIT's business spans a wide range of fields, primarily concentrated in the smartphone and automotive industries. For instance, in automotive applications like in-vehicle cameras, Sunny OIT holds the global market share leadership position.
What might succeed smartphones? It could be wearables or AR glasses. While the answer remains uncertain, Sunny OIT has already laid the groundwork – notably in AR/VR.
Frank Xu believes that humanity's ultimate goal is the virtualization of the real world. This brings to mind the sci-fi film Ready Player One, where technologies like VR create a virtual world called "OASIS," allowing people to become anyone and do anything. "How will this virtualized world be presented? AR/VR might be excellent candidates," Frank Xu suggested. In his view, although these markets are not yet large enough to rival mobile phones or automobiles, looking 5 or 10 years ahead, they are poised to become substantial markets. As Frank Xu puts it, the track Sunny OIT has chosen is that of "intelligent eyes." "Wherever robots require 'eyes,' Sunny OIT will have a presence."
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