Azure Kinect


The Azure Kinect DK is a developer kit and PC peripheral which employs the use of artificial intelligence sensors for computer vision and speech models. It is the successor to the Microsoft Kinect line of sensors, and is now connected to the Microsoft Azure cloud. It is based on the depth sensor presented during 2018 ISSCC.
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. The kit includes a 12 megapixel RGB camera supplemented by 1 megapixel-depth camera for body tracking. It also has a 360-degree seven-microphone array and an orientation sensor.
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. With the kit, developers are expected to develop corporate applications connected to Microsoft's cloud and AI technologies. The Azure Kinect is also used in volumetric capture workflows through the use of software tools such as or 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.

History

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