2000–2011: Research Henrik Schumann-Olsen and Øystein Skotheim worked together at SINTEF, conducting research into machine and robot vision solutions covering a range of different 3D imaging techniques. In 2010 Microsoft launched the
Kinect motion sensor add-on for Xbox, integrating a new form of 3D depth camera.
2011–2014: Prototype Microsoft’s Kinect enabled researchers and tech-enthusiasts to modify an off-the-shelf 3D camera, and at SINTEF the vision team's concept of a ‘Kinect for Industry’ was born. By the end of 2014, a prototype product, named ShapeCrafter 3D, was introduced, showcasing 3D vision capabilities and color
point clouds. ShapeCrafter was demonstrated for the first time at VISION 2014 in Stuttgart, Germany.
2015: Foundation The Research Council of Norway provided 6M NOK for further research into 3D industrial machine vision cameras. Henrik Schumann-Olsen and Øystein Skotheim founded Zivid Labs as a spin-out from SINTEF.
2017: Zivid One In March 2017, Zivid Labs introduced its first mass-produced product, the Zivid One 3D color camera. The camera was rated IP65 for industrial use.
2018: Zivid One+ An upgraded version of Zivid One, the Zivid One+ was launched in November 2018 as VISION 2018 in Stuttgart, Germany. The Zivid One+ product portfolio included three 3D color cameras spanning working distances from to . In September 2018, logistics company
DHL installed its first fully automated e-fulfilment robot in its Behringe, Netherlands warehouse. The robotic system integrated the Zivid One 3D color camera and was used for de-palletizing, picking, and order-fulfilment operations. The Zivid One 3D camera received Red Dot's "Product Design" award, Vision System Design's "Gold Innovators Award" and inVISION Magazine's "Top Innovation Award". Zivid appointed Thomas Embla Bonnerud as CEO. The company changed its name from Zivid Labs to Zivid.
2019: Enhancement and expansion Zivid introduced a new software development kit and graphical user interface in March 2019. The SDK provided Windows and Linux support, and included a re-engineered API and a second-generation vision engine. The Zivid Studio GUI provided developers with a ready-to-use application for 3D
point cloud capture, visualization and exploration. Zivid opened sales offices in China, South Korea, and North America, and appointed first distributors in Canada, China, Japan and USA.
2020: Zivid 2, software evolution and accessories In November 2020, Zivid announced Zivid 2, a faster, high-precision 3D color camera. More compact and lighter in weight than previous products, it was purpose-designed to suit both on-arm and stationary mounted applications. Major updates to the Zivid software development kit were also announced in June and December 2020. The SDK 2.0 provided: stripe patterns to suppress interreflections, filtering to correct contrast distortion artifacts, enhanced HDR image capture sequencing, and multi-camera calibration. To simplify camera mounting, Zivid announced a range of accessories in July 2020. For robot arm mounting, a camera mount, bracket, and extender to the ISO 9409-1-50-4-M6 coupling plate standard were introduced along with cable guide, power and data cables. For stationary applications, a reconfigurable pan and tilt camera mount was provided.
2022: Product update In October 2022, Zivid announced Zivid 2 L100, designed to enable robotic picking in deeper, larger bins than are typical of the manufacturing industry. L100 is built on the established Zivid 2 platform, and the original Zivid 2 will become the Zivid 2 M70.
2023: Zivid 2+ In June 2023, Zivid unveiled the Zivid 2+ family, comprising the M60, M130, and L110 3D camera models. This product line unified 5-megapixel 3D and 2D data, resulting in improved point cloud resolution and transparent imaging capabilities. This 3D camera lineup is designed to cover a broad range of use cases with different working distances and volumes that are particularly suited to particular applications. "Transparency has long been considered an impossible feat in 3D machine vision, and as a leading innovator in 3D vision, Zivid strives to make the impossible possible. Years of R&D efforts are now manifesting themselves in a product that enables consistent and reliable captures from all but the clearest glass."
2024: Zivid 2+ R-series In December 2024, Zivid introduced an upgraded version of the Zivid 2+: the Zivid 2+ R-series. This line of cameras mirrors the original line up for the Zivid 2+ with the MR60, MR130, LR110. The Zivid 2+ R-series brings higher quality 2D data that is sharper, crisper and has less
image artifacts while having the same 2D and 3D 5-megapixel resolution as its predecessor. The Zivid 2+ R-series brings a level of robustness and immunity to changes in ambient light to provide more complete, correct and consistent data.
2025: Zivid 3 In November 2025, Zivid announced the availability of the Zivid 3 XL250, designed for depalletizing in warehousing and large bin-picking in manufacturing. It is based on the Zivid 2+ R Series platform, and is claimed to have improved performance and point cloud coverage quality. It provides point cloud coverage in under 500 milliseconds. ==Technology==