LAS VEGAS, January 6, 2026 β At CES 2026, Orbbec unveiled the Gemini 305, an ultra-compact binocular 3D camera designed specifically for robotic arm wrist mounting. Measuring just 42mm Γ 42mm Γ 23mm and weighing only 68 grams, the Gemini 305 achieves sub-millimeter depth precision at 15cm β bringing professional-grade 3D perception to the tightest spaces in robotic manipulation.
Solving the Wrist-Mounted Camera Problem
The wrist of a robotic arm is one of the most demanding environments for a 3D camera. Space is extremely limited, weight directly impacts payload capacity, and the camera must deliver precise close-range depth data for tasks like bin picking, assembly, and quality inspection. Until now, mainstream wrist-mounted 3D cameras have suffered from three key limitations:
- Weak near-range performance: Typical minimum working distances of 7cm or more, creating large blind zones
- Narrow field of view: Often limited to 87Β° Γ 58Β°, restricting the robot’s awareness during manipulation
- Single imaging mode: Inability to switch between depth and color data streams for different tasks
The Gemini 305 addresses all three. Its minimum imaging distance of just 4cm reduces the blind zone by 43% compared to mainstream alternatives. The wide field of view enables clear recognition of 8.6cm Γ 5.4cm objects at 20cm distance. And a multi-mode data stream system allows one-click switching between “depth + color” and “dual color” output.
Dual Data Stream Modes
The Gemini 305’s flexible data stream design is a standout feature for robotic applications:
- “Depth + Color” mode: Balances spatial perception with energy efficiency β ideal for tasks requiring both 3D geometry and color information
- “Dual Color” mode: Strengthens semantic understanding by providing two synchronized color streams β useful for AI-based object recognition and scene understanding
This flexibility means each frame of data precisely serves the algorithm’s needs, whether the robot is performing precise depth-based pick-and-place or AI-powered semantic classification.
Gemini 305g: Built for Industrial Motion
For high-frequency robotic arm motion scenarios, Orbbec simultaneously launched the Gemini 305g, which replaces USB with GMSL2 and FAKRA connectors. This industrial-grade connectivity ensures cable durability during continuous motion and provides more stable data transmission β critical for 24/7 manufacturing operations.
NVIDIA Jetson Thor Integration
Alongside the Gemini 305 launch, Orbbec announced that its Gemini 330 series cameras have completed full adaptation and validation with the NVIDIA Jetson Thor system-on-module. As Jetson Thor enters mass production, bringing thousand-TOPS-level edge computing to robotics, this integration provides a complete perception-to-decision pipeline.
“NVIDIA Jetson Thor’s powerful AI compute requires high-quality visual data as fuel,” said Dr. Li Wei, Product Director of Orbbec’s Pan-Robotics Product Center. “The deep synergy between the Gemini series and the Jetson Thor platform provides a complete visual computing solution from perception to decision-making for embodied intelligence applications, accelerating innovation and deployment in humanoid robots, advanced AMRs, and other frontier fields.”
Dual-Factory Manufacturing Strategy
At CES 2026, Orbbec also showcased its dual-factory manufacturing system for the first time, with facilities in Shunde, China and Vietnam. This global manufacturing footprint is designed to serve international customers with stable supply chains and localized support β a strategic advantage as the robotics industry increasingly demands volume production of vision components.
The dual-factory approach positions Orbbec as a reliable alternative for companies concerned about supply chain concentration risks, particularly following Intel’s divestiture of the RealSense business and the resulting market uncertainty.
Competitive Positioning
The Gemini 305 enters a market segment that has been underserved. While depth cameras like the Intel RealSense D405 have been popular for close-range robotic applications, the Gemini 305’s combination of smaller form factor, closer minimum range, wider FoV, and switchable data modes represents a meaningful generational improvement.
For integrators building robotic manipulation systems β particularly in electronics assembly, pharmaceutical inspection, and humanoid robot hands β the Gemini 305 offers a compelling value proposition: professional 3D perception in a package small enough to disappear into the robot’s wrist.
The Bigger Picture: Vision as the Robot’s Eye
The Gemini 305 launch reflects a broader industry trend: as humanoid robots and collaborative arms move from research labs to production environments, the demand for compact, high-precision 3D cameras is growing exponentially. Orbbec’s strategy of combining hardware innovation (ultra-compact form factor, multi-mode data streams) with ecosystem partnerships (NVIDIA Jetson Thor, global manufacturing) positions the company as a key player in the next wave of robotic vision.
As Mike McSweeney, Orbbec’s VP of Sales, stated: “Gemini 305 brings the minimum imaging distance down to 4cm, reducing the blind zone by 43%. Combined with the ultra-wide field of view and switchable data streams, it significantly enhances perception for close-range precision work β providing an ideal visual solution for small part recognition, flexible grasping, and humanoid robots.”
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