Which statement describes the difference between a 2D camera and a 3D camera in robotics?

• A. The 2D camera captures depth information; the 3D camera captures color
• B. The 2D camera captures image intensity and color; the 3D camera provides depth measurements
• C. The 2D camera uses depth sensors; the 3D camera uses grayscale
• D. The 3D camera provides only color without depth

Answer: (B)

In robotics, the key distinction is what data the camera provides. A 2D camera records how bright each point on the image plane is, and in color cameras that brightness is split into channels (RGB), but it does not give the distance to surfaces. A 3D camera, on the other hand, outputs depth information for each pixel, telling you how far away the surfaces are. Some 3D cameras can also capture color, but depth per pixel is the defining feature that sets them apart. That’s why the statement that best describes the difference is that a 2D camera captures image intensity and color, while a 3D camera provides depth measurements.