A Keen Eye on the Go, A Step Ahead on the Road

ams OSRAM (SIX: AMS), a leader in digital photonics, today announced that its TMF8829 multi-zone direct Time-of-Flight (dToF) sensor has been integrated into the newly launched π6 series exoskeleton robots from Kenqing Technology. As the world's first pocket-sized AI exoskeleton robot series from Kenqing, the series senses terrain changes in advance and anticipates road conditions ahead, providing key inputs for precise, timely assistance. With its compact format and intelligent sensing technology, the π6 series is committed to bringing assistance, energy, and environmental awareness seamlessly into the on-the-go experience. The product is now fully available for online purchase.

In this collaboration, the ams OSRAM TMF8829 is primarily used in the π6 Plus and π6 Pro models. This marks the first mass-production application of the TMF8829 in wearable assistive robots and further extends ams OSRAM’s dToF sensing technology from traditional consumer electronics into robotics and wearable devices.

As a leader in digital photonics, ams OSRAM keeps pushing the boundaries of innovative sensing technology, giving machines real-time perception of the physical world. Among these technologies, dToF sensors play a key role in precisely perceiving spatial information. 
As the robot form factor closest to the human body, exoskeletons work in sync with human gait, placing extremely high demands on the real-time accuracy of spatial perception. Whether it is the steep slopes and gravel paths faced by outdoor enthusiasts or the everyday stair climbing of elderly users, traditional exoskeletons often rely on a “passive response” to body movement – they only gradually increase assistance after the user has taken a step and react too slowly to uneven steps and changes in step height. When assistance lags a step behind, users shall feel a dragging sensation at best, or at worst their movements are met with resistance.

To address this challenge, the π6 series is designed to “understand” the terrain ahead and determine how much assistance to provide. For the first time, the π6 Plus and π6 Pro models feature a sensing unit that combines a Full HD camera with an ams OSRAM dToF sensor, enabling the exoskeleton to assess terrain ahead and adapt its assistance accordingly for a smoother, more natural walking experience.
Li Jianbing, Marketing Director of Kenqing Technology, said: “The π6 series combines pocket-sized lightweight design with AI-powered environmental perception. It identifies terrain changes in advance and matches them with suitable assistance strategies, delivering a more natural and fluid on-the-go assistance experience for users. As a strategic partner of Kenqing Technology, ams OSRAM’s leading optical sensing technology and professional support have provided critical backing for the π6 series to achieve precise and reliable spatial perception and have laid a solid foundation for both companies to keep expanding innovative applications of smart exoskeletons.”

In real-world use of the π6 series, the ams OSRAM TMF8829 multi-zone dToF sensor continuously scans the terrain ahead. With a high resolution of 48×32 zones (1,536 ranging points), an 80° field of view, and a maximum range-finding distance of 11 meters, it distinguishes step edges, slope changes, and ground undulations before the user takes a step. Combined with the AI processor, the π6 Pro can accurately recognize up to 9 types of terrain and 6 types of motion. When steps or potholes are detected, the system automatically switches assistance modes without any manual intervention. Moreover, the sensor’s high frame rate enables gait transitions to occur 0.3 to 0.5 steps earlier, helping to eliminate delays; meanwhile, foot placement can be predicted so that it is possible to adjust leg-lift height ahead of time, avoiding the risk of tripping. Under bright outdoor light, tree shade, or dim light, the sensor works stably without relying on ground texture, helping to enhance safety in complex environments. This ability to “anticipate” moves exoskeletons from “passive response” toward “proactive prediction.”

At the new product launch event for Kenqing’s exoskeleton robots, Kenqing Technology and ams OSRAM officially announced their strategic partnership. Alan Fu, Channel Sales Director at ams OSRAM, attended the event and joined the launch ceremony. Alan Fu commented: “Kenqing Technology has outstanding innovation capabilities in the field of smart exoskeletons. The π6 series seamlessly integrates lightweight design with AI-powered environmental perception, delivering a smarter and more natural user experience. We are delighted to establish a strategic partnership with Kenqing Technology. The ams OSRAM TMF8829 multi-zone dToF sensor provides precise and reliable spatial information, offering critical support for the π6 series to perceive terrain in advance and optimize assistance strategies.”
From cup-shape recognition in coffee machines and spatial perception in smartphones to package identification in logistics robots and terrain prediction in exoskeleton robots, the application scope of the ams OSRAM TMF8829 multi-zone dToF sensor is expanding from consumer electronics into broader scenarios such as robotics and wearable devices. Building on years of innovation in sensing technology, ams OSRAM will continue to explore emerging application areas with even greater potential, unlocking new possibilities for “perception.”