Quantitative evaluation of brain-inspired vision sensors in high-speed robotic perception

Perception systems in robotics encounter significant challenges in high-speed and dynamic conditions when relying on traditional cameras, where motion blur can compromise spatial feature integrity and task performance. Brain-inspired vision sensors (BVS) have recently gained attention as an alternative, offering high temporal resolution with reduced bandwidth and power requirements. Here, we present the first quantitative evaluation framework for two representative classes of BVSs in variable-speed robotic sensing, including event-based vision sensors (EVS) that detect asynchronous temporal contrasts, and the primitive-based sensor Tianmouc that employs a complementary mechanism to encode both spatiotemporal changes and intensity. A unified testing protocol is established, including crosssensor calibrations, standardized testing platforms, and quality metrics to address differences in data modality. From an imaging standpoint, we evaluate the effects of sensor non-idealities, such as motion-induced distortion, on the capture of structural information. For functional benchmarking, we examine task performance in corner detection and motion estimation under different rotational speeds. Results indicate that EVS performs well in highspeed, sparse scenarios and in modestly fast, complex scenes, but exhibits performance limitations in high-speed, cluttered settings due to pixel-level bandwidth variations and event rate saturation. In comparison, Tianmouc demonstrates consistent performance across sparse and complex scenarios at various speeds, supported by its global, precise, high-speed spatiotemporal gradient samplings. These findings offer valuable insights into the applicationdependent suitability of BVS technologies and support further advancement in this area.

Technical report of a DMD-based Characterization Method for Vision Sensors

This technical report presents a novel DMD-based characterization method for vision sensors, particularly neuromorphic sensors such as event-based vision sensors (EVS) and Tianmouc, a complementary vision sensor. Traditional image sensor characterization standards, such as EMVA1288, are unsuitable for BVS due to their dynamic response characteristics. To address this, we propose a high-speed, high-precision testing system using a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) to modulate spatial and temporal light intensity. This approach enables quantitative analysis of key parameters such as event latency, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and dynamic range (DR) under controlled conditions. Our method provides a standardized and reproducible testing framework, overcoming the limitations of existing evaluation techniques for neuromorphic sensors. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of this method for large-scale BVS dataset generation and conversion, paving the way for more consistent benchmarking of bio-inspired vision technologies.