Azure Kinect

The Azure Kinect DK is a developer kit and PC peripheral which employs the use of artificial intelligence (AI) sensors for computer vision and speech models.[1] It is the successor to the Microsoft Kinect line of sensors, and is now connected to the Microsoft Azure cloud.[2] It is based on the depth sensor presented during 2018 ISSCC.[3]

The Azure Kinect DK
DeveloperMicrosoft
Release dateMarch 2020 (March 2020)
Introductory price$399.00
Operating systemWindows, Linux
Camera12 megapixel RGB camera;
1 megapixel-depth camera
PlatformMicrosoft Azure
PredecessorKinect
Websiteazure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/kinect-dk/

The Azure Kinect retails for $399.00 in the US and China. Based on a recent announcement, devices will also start shipping to the UK, Germany, and Japan in March 2020.[4] The kit includes a 12 megapixel RGB camera supplemented by 1 megapixel-depth camera for body tracking.[5] It also has a 360-degree seven-microphone array[6] and an orientation sensor.[7]

While the previous iteration of Microsoft's Kinect is primarily focused on gaming, the device is aimed at broad-based enterprise users and is also targeted towards other markets such as logistics, robotics, health care, and retail.[6] With the kit, developers are expected to develop corporate applications connected to Microsoft's cloud and AI technologies.[8] The Azure Kinect is also used in volumetric capture workflows through the use of software tools such as Depthkit or EF EVE which allows the highest number of Azure Kinects to be connected into one consumer friendly volumetric capture rig. These software allow users to create interactive virtual reality experiences with human performances.[9][10]

History

The Azure Kinect was announced on February 24, 2019 in Barcelona at the MWC.[11]

References
  1. "Azure Kinect DK – Develop AI Models | Microsoft Azure". azure.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2019-03-23.
  2. "Buy the Azure Kinect developer kit – Microsoft". Microsoft Store.
  3. mattzmsft. "Depth camera whitepaper - ISSCC 2018 - Mixed Reality". docs.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  4. "Microsoft Store - Azure Kinect".
  5. Thorp-Lancaster, Dan (2019-07-11). "Azure Kinect developer kit hits general availability". Windows Central. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
  6. "Microsoft Lures Investors With Azure Kinect & Partner Updates". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
  7. Lardinois, Frederick (July 2019). "Microsoft's $399 Azure Kinect AI camera is now shipping in the US and China". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
  8. Ranger, Steve (February 25, 2019). "What is Microsoft's Azure Kinect DK?". ZDNet. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
  9. Legkov, Az Balabanian & Petr. "Volumetric Video, Depth Cams, and Filmmaking using Depthkit, with Alexander Porter - 081". Research VR Podcast - The Science & Design of Virtual Reality. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  10. "Announcing Azure Kinect support in Depthkit!". Depthkit. 11 July 2019.
  11. "Microsoft unveils next-generation HoloLens headset and $399 'Azure Kinect' camera for developers". GeekWire. February 24, 2019.
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