Vadzo Imaging is bringing 9-axis IMU integration to its Falcon USB 3.2 Gen 1 camera portfolio extending a capability currently available across its MIPI camera series to its full range of SuperSpeed USB imaging products. The expansion covers high-resolution products including the 13MP AR1335 camera series and 8MP AR0830 and AR0821 sensor platforms alongside the 20MP AR2020 monochrome platform. Robotics developers drone integrators and OEM engineers can expect plug-and-play USB IMU camera solutions that combine motion-aware imaging with the simplicity of UVC-compliant connectivity.
Vadzo Imaging, a global provider of embedded vision solutions, today announced the upcoming expansion of its USB 3.2 Gen 1 Camera Portfolio with support for 9-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) integration. Building on the 9-axis IMU capability already deployed across its MIPI camera series the company is now extending this sensor fusion feature to its USB 3.2 Gen 1 imaging products targeting robotics platforms mobile industrial systems UAV deployments and OEM embedded vision applications that demand tightly coupled motion and imaging data over a single USB interface, with UVC plug-and-play image streaming and SDK-enabled IMU integration.
The Falcon series products slated for IMU integration include the AR1335 Color 4K Autofocus 13MP USB 3.2 camera, the AR1335 Monochrome M12 VCM Autofocus 4K USB 3.2 Gen1 Camera, the AR0830 Color 4K HDR USB 3.0 Camera, the AR0821 Color 4K HDR USB 3.0 Camera and the AR2020 Monochrome 20MP USB 3.0 Camera.
Why 9-Axis IMU Integration Changes the Equation for USB 3.2 Vision Systems
Conventional USB 3.2 camera products stream visual data to a host processor but carry no built-in awareness of orientation velocity or movement. In robotics and drone applications this creates an architectural gap. The host must independently poll a separate IMU module correlate timestamps and manage two distinct data pipelines before any meaningful sensor fusion can happen. For embedded systems where processing headroom and integration time are both constrained this adds cost and complexity that slows development.
A USB 3.2 Gen 1 IMU camera addresses this gap by delivering visual and inertial data over a single USB interface, with synchronization achieved through firmware and API-level timestamp alignment. The 9-axis configuration covers a 3-axis accelerometer for linear motion detection a 3-axis gyroscope for rotational velocity measurement and a 3-axis magnetometer for heading and orientation reference. Together, these provide the host processor with a comprehensive motion and orientation dataset alongside every captured frame, enabling more accurate visual inertial odometry, stabilized imaging, and real-time pose estimation when combined with system-level sensor fusion algorithms, without requiring external IMU hardware.
Vadzo’s MIPI camera series has already validated this approach in production at the board level. Extending it to the Falcon USB 3.2 Gen 1 platform brings the same motion-aware imaging capability to a much wider set of host platforms including Windows and Linux systems, as well as Android devices with UVC support, that do not have MIPI receivers. UVC compliance ensures driverless operation out of the box while the VISPA ARC SDK provides deeper programmatic control over IMU configuration data synchronization and streaming parameters for OEMs who need fine-grained control.
“The demand for motion tracking imaging sensors in USB form factors has grown significantly as robotics and drone platforms have matured. Our MIPI camera series has proven that tightly integrated 9-axis IMU imaging is both practical and valuable at the system level. Expanding this to the Falcon USB 3.2 Gen 1 camera portfolio means developers working on wider range of host platforms can now access the same sensor fusion capability without adding external IMU hardware or managing separate data buses,” – Alwin Vincent, Product Manager, Vadzo Imaging.
Falcon USB 3.2 Gen 1 Camera Products Targeted for IMU Expansion
The Falcon-1335CRA is a 13MP autofocus camera product built on the Onsemi AR1335 camera sensor in a 1/3.2″ format with 1.1 µm pixel pitch, delivering 13MP USB 3.2 low light camera performance at 4208×3120 color resolution with M12 VCM autofocus. This 13 MP USB 3.2 camera series is well established in precision inspection, medical imaging, and industrial vision systems where spatial detail and autofocus adaptability are both required. With 9-axis IMU integration, the Falcon-1335CRA becomes a capable robotics camera module , combining high-resolution color capture with real-time orientation data for platforms requiring accurate visual-inertial navigation. As a USB 3.2 Gen 1 IMU camera product with autofocus and motion tracking imaging sensor capabilities, it supports UVC compliant IMU camera connectivity and is compatible with the VISPA ARC SDK across Windows, Linux, and Android devices with supported UVC and SDK integration.
Key specs: 13MP (4208×3120) | Onsemi AR1335 | 1/3.2″ 1.1µm Pixel | VCM AutoFocus | Rolling Shutter | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | UVC | 9-Axis IMU (Expansion) | GPIO | -30⁰C to 70⁰C | VISPA ARC SDK
Falcon-1335MRH – 13MP AR1335 Monochrome VCM AutoFocus USB 3.2 Gen 1 Camera
The Falcon-1335MRH is a 13 MP USB 3.2 monochrome autofocus camera product powered by the Onsemi AR1335 camera sensor, combining high-resolution grayscale imaging with VCM autofocus and M12 optics in a compact 38mm × 38mm board footprint. Its monochrome architecture eliminates Bayer filtering, enabling sharper edge definition and improved contrast sensitivity, ideal for structured light inspection and machine vision workflows that demand a true high resolution USB 3.2 camera. As part of the upcoming IMU expansion, this USB 3.2 Gen 1 IMU camera will deliver 9-axis IMU camera inertial data alongside every captured frame, supporting mobile inspection platforms, handheld measurement systems, and drone USB 3.2 IMU camera applications where platform orientation directly affects image interpretation. This 13MP USB 3.2 low light camera product is a plug and play USB IMU camera, UVC compliant, and supported by the VISPA ARC SDK across Windows, Linux, and select Android devices.
Key specs: 13MP (4208×3120) | Onsemi AR1335 Mono | 1/3.2″ 1.1µm Pixel | VCM AutoFocus | Rolling Shutter | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | UVC | 9-Axis IMU (Expansion) | GPIO | -30⁰C to 70⁰C | VISPA ARC SDK
Falcon-830CRS – 8MP AR0830 HyperLux LP HDR USB 3.2 Gen 1 Camera
The Falcon-830CRS is a 8MP HDR USB 3.2 camera product built on the Onsemi AR0830 HyperLux LP sensor in a 1/2.9″ stacked BSI format with a 1.4 µm pixel delivering 8MP (3848×2160) imaging at 30fps with LI-HDR and eDR support. Its Wake-on-Motion capability and ultra-low power standby mode make it well suited for always-on embedded vision deployments where power budgets are constrained. Adding 9-axis IMU to the Falcon-830CRS enables dynamic scene correlation across variable lighting environments combining HDR frame capture with motion state awareness for robotics navigation systems autonomous mobile platforms and outdoor inspection deployments. This HDR USB 3.2 imaging sensor operates from -30°C to 70°C and is UVC compliant with a compact board form factor.
Key specs: 8MP (3848×2160) | Onsemi AR0830 HyperLux LP | 1/2.9″ 1.4µm Pixel | Rolling Shutter | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | UVC | 9-Axis IMU (Expansion) | -30°C to 70°C
Falcon-821CRS – 8.3MP AR0821 4K HDR USB 3.2 Gen 1 Camera
The Falcon-821CRS is a 4K HDR USB 3.2 Gen 1 Camera product built on the Onsemi AR0821 sensor in a 1/1.7″ format with 2.1 µm Dual Conversion Gain (DR-Pix) BSI pixel technology delivering 8MP (3848×2168) at 30fps with HDR performance exceeding 140 dB. Its exceptional dynamic range makes it one of the most capable high dynamic range camera products in the Falcon portfolio for outdoor robotics UAV imaging and perimeter inspection where rapid transitions between bright and shadowed zones are routine. The planned IMU expansion for the Falcon-821CRS targets drone USB 3.2 IMU camera deployments where 4K HDR visual data and 9-axis motion telemetry need to be fused on the host for real-time navigation and scene reconstruction. This OEM USB 3.2 camera product supports M12 VCM autofocus USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectivity and the VISPA ARC SDK across Windows and Linux platforms, and select Android devices with UVC support.
Key specs: 8MP (3848×2168) | Onsemi AR0821 | 1/1.7″ 2.1µm Pixel | Rolling Shutter | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | UVC | VCM AutoFocus | 9-Axis IMU (Expansion) | GPIO | -30⁰C to 70⁰C | VISPA ARC SDK
Falcon-2020MRS – 20MP AR2020 HyperLux LP Monochrome USB 3.2 Gen 1 Camera
The Falcon-2020MRS is a 20MP monochrome camera built on the Onsemi AR2020 HyperLux LP sensor, delivering the highest resolution in the Falcon USB 3.2 Gen 1 lineup. Its monochrome output and 20MP high-resolution detail capture make it the preferred platform for aerial survey metrology and high-throughput quality inspection, where fine spatial detail and low-light sensitivity are both priorities. As part of the IMU expansion program, the Falcon-2020MRS will offer 9-axis inertial output alongside its 20MP monochrome frame stream, enabling geo-referenced imaging, aerial photogrammetry, and motion-corrected inspection workflows. The combination of a 20MP USB 3.2 low-light camera product and a full 9-axis IMU in a single USB-powered module significantly reduces system complexity for drone and UAV-based vision platforms.
Key specs: 20MP (5120×3840) | Onsemi AR2020 HyperLux LP | 1/1.8″ 1.4 µm Pixel | Rolling Shutter |USB 3.2 Gen 1 | UVC | 9-Axis IMU (Expansion) | GPIO | -30⁰C to 70⁰C | VISPA ARC SDK | Windows / Linux / Android
VISPA ARC SDK: Developer Control for IMU-Enabled USB 3.2 Camera Products
All Falcon USB 3.2 Gen 1 camera products are supported by Vadzo’s VISPA ARC SDK providing programmatic control over streaming encoding exposure gain ROI configuration GPIO and firmware updates. With the planned IMU expansion the VISPA ARC SDK will additionally expose IMU configuration interfaces enabling developers to set sampling rates access raw accelerometer gyroscope and magnetometer data and synchronize inertial readings with image timestamps at the API level. The SDK supports C, C++ and Python with compatibility across Windows Linux and Android platforms making it accessible to both embedded engineers and robotics developers working across diverse deployment stacks.
Application Areas for USB 3.2 Gen 1 IMU Camera Products
Robotics Navigation and Manipulation
Autonomous mobile robots and robotic arm systems require both visual perception and motion state awareness to navigate reliably in dynamic environments. A rolling shutter IMU camera product that delivers 9-axis IMU camera inertial data alongside each frame enables the host processor to perform visual-inertial odometry with reduced latency and without managing a separate IMU module. The Falcon-830CRS and Falcon-821CRS are well suited for these robotics camera deployments given their High Dynamic Range Sensor capability and compact USB 3.2 Gen 1 IMU camera form factors offering a true plug and play USB IMU camera solution for embedded robotic platforms.
Drone and UAV Imaging
Drone USB 3.2 IMU camera products address a persistent challenge in UAV imaging: vibration, airflow, and rapid attitude changes degrade image quality and make geo-referencing unreliable without synchronized inertial data. The Falcon-2020MRS, a 20MP USB 3.2 camera and the Falcon-821CRS, a 4K HDR USB 3.2 camera both featuring 9-axis IMU integration are designed for drone platforms where a single USB 3.2 Gen 1 camera connection delivers the complete image stream and motion tracking imaging sensor telemetry needed for stabilized capture, precise mapping, and real-time terrain reconstruction.
Industrial Inspection and Motion Tracking Imaging
Inline inspection systems mounted on gantry robots or mobile platforms must account for platform vibration and positional drift to reliably detect surface defects. An Industrial USB IMU camera product that provides USB camera with IMU sensor motion data synchronized to each inspection frame enables software to compensate for platform movement and maintain consistent image quality across a full inspection pass. The Falcon-1335CRA, an 13MP Autofocus USB camera and Falcon-1335MRH, an 13MP VCM based autofocus USB camera both 13 MP USB camera products built on the proven AR1335 camera sensor with M12 VCM autofocus are the recommended choices for high resolution USB 3.2 camera inspection deployments requiring both spatial precision and real-time orientation awareness.
Handheld and Wearable Vision Systems
Handheld scanners, medical imaging probes, and wearable inspection tools benefit from plug-and-play USB camera integration, as the host device already manages USB peripherals natively. Falcon UVC USB cameras require no drivers and are recognized instantly on Windows, Linux, and supported Android platforms. When paired with IMU-enabled configurations, the VISPA ARC SDK provides access to motion data and synchronization with the image stream. As a USB 3.2 Gen 1 camera product family, Falcon modules can support combined vision and motion sensing over a single cable, reducing wiring complexity in compact handheld and wearable form factors for applications such as AR overlays, posture tracking, and spatial mapping.
FAQ
What is a 9-axis IMU and what does it measure?
A 9-axis IMU combines a 3-axis accelerometer for measuring linear acceleration a 3-axis gyroscope for measuring rotational velocity and a 3-axis magnetometer for measuring magnetic heading and orientation. Together they provide a complete six-degrees-of-freedom motion profile enabling applications such as visual-inertial odometry platform stabilization and sensor fusion in robotic and drone systems.
Do any Vadzo camera products currently support 9-axis IMU?
Yes. Vadzo’s falcon USB camera series already supports 9-axis IMU integration at the board level. The expansion announced here brings the same capability to the Falcon USB 3.2 Gen 1 camera portfolio enabling a wider range of host platforms including those without MIPI receivers to access synchronized motion and visual data through a standard USB interface.
Which Falcon USB 3.2 Gen 1 camera products will support IMU first?
The planned expansion targets five products from the Falcon USB 3.2 Gen 1 portfolio: the Falcon-1335CRA 13MP Autofocus USB camera, the Falcon-1335MRH 13MP VCM monochrome USB camera, the Falcon-830CRS 8MP HDR USB camera, the Falcon-821CRS 4K HDR USB camera and the Falcon-2020MRS 20MP monochrome camera. OEMs and developers interested in early access or custom IMU integration can reach Vadzo directly at support@vadzoimaging.com.
Will IMU-enabled Falcon products still be UVC compliant and plug-and-play?
Yes. UVC compliance is a core feature of the Falcon platform and will be preserved across all IMU-enabled variants. The image streaming interface remains fully UVC compliant, enabling driverless operation on Windows and Linux, and on Android devices that support UVC host mode. IMU data access and configuration will be available through the VISPA ARC SDK for developers who need programmatic control over inertial output and timestamp synchronization.
Can the IMU data be synchronized with the image frames?
Yes. Timestamp synchronization between inertial readings and image frames is a design requirement for the IMU expansion. The VISPA ARC SDK will expose APIs for accessing time-aligned IMU and image data enabling motion tracking imaging workflows and visual-inertial odometry pipelines without requiring the application developer to manage separate synchronization logic.
Are these USB 3.2 IMU camera products suitable for drone applications?
The Falcon-2020MRS, a 20MP USB 3.2 camera and the Falcon-821CRS, a 4K USB 3.2 HDR camera both with 9-axis IMU camera integration are specifically well suited for drone USB 3.2 IMU camera deployments. The Falcon-2020MRS delivers the highest resolution in the lineup as a 20MP USB 3.2 low light camera, making it ideal for aerial survey, photogrammetry, and geo-referenced mapping where fine spatial detail and low-light sensitivity are priorities. The Falcon-821CRS brings High Dynamic Range Sensor performance exceeding 140 dB, making it the preferred HDR USB 3.2 imaging sensor for UAV platforms operating across high-contrast outdoor environments. Their combination of high resolution USB 3.2 camera imaging and real-time motion tracking imaging sensor telemetry over a single USB 3.2 Gen 1 camera connection reduces system weight and wiring complexity on compact UAV platforms, while giving the flight computer synchronized motion and image data for stabilization, navigation, and geo-referenced mapping.
What SDK support is available for IMU-enabled Falcon camera products?
All IMU-enabled Falcon USB 3.2 Gen 1 camera products will be supported by the Vadzo VISPA ARC SDK. The SDK provides APIs in C, C++ and Python for streaming control exposure and gain adjustment ROI configuration GPIO management and firmware updates across Windows Linux and Android. IMU-specific APIs for sampling rate configuration raw data access and frame-synchronized inertial output will be added as part of the IMU expansion rollout.
Availability
Vadzo Imaging’s Falcon USB 3.2 Gen 1 camera portfolio is currently available for evaluation prototyping and production deployment. The Falcon-1335CRA, Falcon-830CRS, Falcon-821CRS, Falcon-2020MRS and Falcon-1335MRH are available now via Vadzo’s online store with full technical documentation evaluation unit access and direct applications engineering support. The 9-axis IMU feature expansion for these products is now available. OEMs system integrators and robotics developers interested in early access custom IMU board configurations or volume production planning can contact Vadzo directly to align on timelines and requirements.
Global customers can procure Falcon USB 3.2 Gen 1 camera products through Vadzo’s official channels with international shipping to key robotics and embedded vision markets including the U.S., U.K., Germany, Canada, South Korea, Japan and worldwide markets. Vadzo supports volume production programs multi-camera deployment planning and customization services including optics firmware and form factor modifications for robotics and drone platforms.
About Vadzo Imaging
Vadzo Imaging is a global provider of embedded vision solutions delivering high-performance imaging products for robotics UAVs industrial automation and edge AI applications. The company specializes in sensor integration HDR imaging and interface platforms including USB MIPI and GigE enabling developers to build vision systems for autonomous navigation robotic manipulation inspection and intelligent monitoring. Vadzo’s solutions combine imaging hardware ISP optimization and software platforms including VISPA ARC SDK for USB camera products and VISPA NXT SDK for GigE camera products providing developers with control over streaming encoding camera parameters and system integration. With support for NVIDIA Jetson Raspberry Pi Qualcomm RB series and NXP i.MX platforms Vadzo enables OEMs and integrators to accelerate development simplify deployment and scale robotic vision systems across production environments. Learn more at vadzoimaging.com.
Media Contact
Alwin Vincent
Vadzo Imaging
Phone: +1 817-678-2139
Email: alwin@vadzoimaging.com
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