AIRY3D raises $10 million Series A funding to advance the commercial adoption of its 3D sensor platform

AIRY3D, a Montreal-based 3D computer vision startup, has raised US$10 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round to advance the commercialization of its 3D sensor platform. The latest round was led by Intel Capital with participation from all Seed round investors CRCM Ventures, Nautilus Venture Partners, R7 Partners, Robert Bosch Venture Capital (RBVC), and WI Harper Group. The round also included  several angel investors that are affiliates of TandemLaunch, the incubator that spun out AIRY3D.

Founded in 2015, AIRY:3D is a Montreal-based startup with a suite of passive depth recovery technologies brings 3D machine vision to any camera, all without sacrificing battery life, footprint, or image quality. Its DepthIQ depth-sensing platform, is a versatile and straightforward solution that is far more computationally efficient than other approaches, while also being significantly lower in cost. DepthIQ is also “sensor agnostic” meaning it can be customized to any given CMOS sensor specification

DepthIQ converts camera sensors into a 3D sensor to generate both 2D images and 3D depth data. The solution combines optical physics with algorithms to deliver 3D sensing solutions. AIRY3D’s goal is to facilitate faster and smaller 3D solutions that enable human and machine vision applications. A simple, drop-in solution, DepthIQTM is an enabler for many burgeoning markets that span mobile, automotive, AR/VR, drones, robotics, smart homes and beyond.

“The simplicity and cost-efficiency of AIRY3D’s 3D sensor technology, which does not require multiple components, helps position AIRY3D’s technology as a potential enabler for many target markets”, said Dave Flanagan, vice president and group managing director at Intel Capital.

AIRY3D’s DepthIQTM technology can render 3D point cloud images from a single image taken from a single camera (shown as a 2D image). (CNW Group/AIRY3D)

“AIRY3D’s DepthIQTM platform is a cost-effective technology that can accelerate the adoption of several new applications such as facial, gesture and object recognition, portrait modes, professional ‘Bokeh’ effects, and image segmentation in mobile markets and beyond,” said Dr. Ingo Ramesohl, Managing Director at Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH. “We see tremendous opportunities in one of the largest business areas of Bosch – the automotive industry. The adoption of 3D cameras inside the cabin and outside with ADAS can drive significant improvements in safety and facilitate the industry’s shift towards autonomous vehicles.”

“After concluding our Seed round in March 2017, we fabricated DepthIQTM 3D sensors on state-of-the-art CMOS wafers in collaboration with a leading sensor OEM. AIRY3D has since demonstrated 3D camera prototypes and numerous use cases. With the support of Intel, Bosch and our other investors, we now are formalizing partnerships with camera sensor OEMs and design-in collaborations with industry leading end customers in our strategic markets,” said Dan Button, CEO of AIRY3D.

AIRY3D’s DepthIQTM platform can convert any single 2D imaging sensor into one that generates a 2D image and 3D depth data. It combines simple optical physics (our broadly patented, in situ Transmissive Diffraction Mask technology) with proprietary algorithms to deliver versatile 3D sensing solutions while preserving 2D performance. The simplicity of this solution, including its inherently compressed data set, translates to dramatic savings in hardware, size and computational load. In turn, this enables faster, cheaper, smaller 3D solutions that facilitate numerous human and machine vision applications, and machine learning.