The Eros 5GigE camera series is designed to meet the diverse demands of modern imaging applications with its comprehensive image sensor lineup . A highlight of this series is the integration of Sony’s IMX990/991/992/993 sensors. The inclusion of these SWIR sensors opens up many new possibilities for advanced imaging applications from industrial inspection, agriculture monitoring or scientific research. The inception of the new camera family was driven by a clear objective: to address the prevalent challenges in multi-camera applications within the market. The track record of delivering flawless turnkey solutions, such as configurations with 48x 25MP cameras all streaming and recording at 60fps in full resolution without any frame loss, contrasts with the industry’s struggle to efficiently manage more than 3 to 4 one or 5GigE cameras within a single workstation. The release of the new series signifies a strategic extension of the companies advanced technology from 10, 25, and 100GigE camera families to a wider audience. The cameras not only incorporates zero copy technology but also fully embraces GPU-Direct support, enhancing the efficiency and performance of machine vision systems in high-speed, high-volume imaging applications.
Zero Copy and GPU-Direct
At the heart of innovation is the integration of zero copy technology with the optimized GigE Vision + GigE Vision Streaming Protocol (GVSP). This approach simplifies the image data transfer process, allowing for direct transmission from the camera to the application’s memory, thereby bypassing conventional processing bottlenecks and boosting system performance. Zero copy technology facilitates a direct data pathway to the application’s memory by utilizing the capabilities of the network interface card (NIC) and the GigE Vision + GVSP framework, significantly reducing system load and latency. This is especially advantageous in multi-camera systems, where the CPU’s capacity can quickly become a limiting factor due to the sheer volume of data being processed. And, unlike RDMA/RoCEv2, there is a full multicast support. The system is engineered to support high-speed data transmission over Gigabit Ethernet, utilizing a UDP-based protocol to ensure an efficient and lightweight communication channel, perfect for the real-time streaming of voluminous image data. The integration of GPU-Direct technology further augments system efficiency, enabling direct data transfers between the camera and GPU memory. This is indispensable for applications, such as AI and deep learning, that demand swift processing and analysis of image data, facilitating real-time decision-making and intricate image processing tasks.
Image 3 | GPU-Direct technology enables direct data transfers between the camera and GPU memory. – Bild: Emergent Vision Technologies 
Bild: Emergent Vision Technologies
Smoother multi-camera setups
The amalgamation of zero copy technology with the optimized GigE Vision + GVSP transforms machine vision systems, delivering unmatched efficiency, speed, and scalability. It significantly reduces latency in critical applications and lowers CPU overhead, ensuring smoother operation across multi-camera setups. The Eros series will be available in two distinct versions, each tailored to specific operational environments:
- RJ45 interface: This version is ideal for traditional Ethernet setups, offering ease of integration and flexibility for a broad spectrum of machine vision applications. The RJ45 interface ensures compatibility with standard network equipment, supports POE facilitating straightforward deployment and maintenance.
- The Fiber Interface Version: Catering to applications requiring extended cable lengths and higher data security, the fiber interface version is particularly suited for environments where electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a concern or where data must be transmitted over long distances without loss of integrity.
The Eros series boasts exceptional integration capabilities, designed to fit seamlessly into existing machine vision systems. Whether it’s through standard GigE Vision and GenICam protocols for compatibility or through direct API access for custom development, the cameras are built to integrate effortlessly. Last but not least the proprietary Capture software should be highlighted, which is engineered to unlock the full potential of the camera series, offering an intuitive interface for camera control, advanced image processing capabilities, and robust data management features. It supports GPU-Direct technology, enabling direct data transfer between the camera and GPU for accelerated image processing. This integration is crucial for applications requiring real-time analysis, such as AOI in manufacturing or motion analysis in sports science. Eros will get released into the market within 2024.