The ZED SDK is a cross-platform library designed to get the best out of the ZED cameras.
In this project, we provide tutorials and code samples to get started using the ZED SDK API.
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🎉 The ZED SDK 5.3 is released!
ZED SDK 5.3 introduces support for the new ZED X Nano camera, an ultra-compact module featuring an 18 mm baseline and dual global-shutter sensors, enabling high-quality stereo capture for close-range manipulation tasks. This release includes an update to the NEURAL LIGHT model, which has improved robustness and accuracy in challenging environments while maintaining the same runtime cost. The new voxel-decimation mode provides point clouds with depth-adaptive resolution, reducing memory and bandwidth usage while preserving detail where it matters most. In addition, native AES-256 encryption for SVO2 recordings ensures secure data storage and protects sensitive captured information.
Core system improvements streamline deployment and integration. Camera calibration is now stored directly on board in EEPROM, removing network dependency at initialization. The SDK can also automatically reuse an existing CUDA primary context, enabling smoother interoperability with frameworks such as PyTorch. Additionally, a new monotonic TIMESTAMP_CLOCK option ensures image and IMU timestamps remain stable and unaffected by wall-clock adjustments (e.g., NTP/PTP).
Performance and ecosystem updates further enhance the platform. Recording now benefits from significantly reduced CPU usage through zero-copy capture, complemented by the new SVO_ENCODING_PRESET API for flexible quality–performance tuning. SLAM GEN_3 delivers improved accuracy in low-texture environments, ROS 2 image topics support zero-copy intra-process communication, and overall streaming and GMSL stability have been strengthened.
Please check the Release Notes of the latest version for more details.
| Depth Sensing | Object Detection | Body Tracking |
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| Positional Tracking | Global Localization | Spatial Mapping |
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| Camera Control | Plane Detection | Multi Camera Fusion |
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- 🎯 End-to-end spatial perception platform for human-like sensing capabilities.
- ⚡ Real-time performance: all algorithms of the ZED SDK are designed and optimized to run in real-time.
- 📷 Reduce time-to-market with our comprehensive, ready-to-use hardware and software designed for multiple applications.
- 📖 User-friendly and intuitive, with easy-to-use integrations and well-documented API for streamlined development.
- 🛠️ Wide range of supported platforms, from desktop to embedded PCs.
The ZED SDK contains all the libraries that power your camera along with tools that let you experiment with its features and settings.
To get started:
- Get a ZED from the Stereolabs Store
- Download the ZED SDK
- Install the ZED SDK on Windows, Linux or Jetson
- Start experimenting with the ZED SDK's tutorials
The documentation and API reference are great starting points to learn more about the ZED SDK and its many modules.
This repository contains ready-to-use and samples to start using the ZED SDK with only a few lines of code. They are organized by ZED SDK module:
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Tutorials - A series of basic tutorials that demonstrate the use of each API module.
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Camera Control - This sample shows how to adjust the ZED camera parameters.
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Camera Streaming - This sample shows how to stream and receive on local network the ZED's video feed.
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Depth Sensing - This sample shows how to capture a 3D point cloud and display with OpenGL. It also shows how to save depth data in different formats.
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Positional Tracking - This sample shows how to use positional tracking and display the result with OpenGL.
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Global Localization - This sample shows how to fuse the ZED SDK's positional tracking with GNSS data for global positioning.
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Spatial Mapping - This sample shows how to capture 3D meshes with the ZED and display it with OpenGL. Classic Mesh and Point Cloud fusion are available.
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Object Detection - This sample shows how to use the Object Detection API module with the ZED.
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Body Tracking - This sample shows how to use the Body Tracking API with the ZED.
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Recording - This sample shows how to record and playback video files in SVO format. SVO files let you use all the ZED SDK features without having a ZED connected.
Here is the list of all supported operating systems for the latest version of the ZED SDK. Please find the recommended specifications to make sure your configuration is compatible with the ZED SDK.
| Ubuntu LTS | Windows | Jetson |
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The ZED SDK requires the use of an NVIDIA GPU with a Compute Capability > 5.
If you are not familiar with the corresponding versions between NVIDIA JetPack SDK and Jetson Linux, please take a look at our blog post.
The ZED SDK can be easily integrated into projects using the following programming languages:
| C++ | Python | C# | C |
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Thanks to its comprehensive API, ZED cameras can be interfaced with multiple third-party libraries and environments.
| Unity | Unreal Engine 5 | OpenCV | ROS | ROS 2 |
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| Pytorch | YOLO | Matlab | Isaac SIM | Touch Designer |
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Join the conversation and connect with other ZED SDK users to share ideas, solve problems, and help make the ZED SDK awesome. Our aim is to make it extremely convenient for everyone to communicate with us.
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Discourse is our forum where all ZED users can connect. This is the best place to brainstorm and exchange about ZED cameras, ZED SDK software, and other Stereolabs products. Feel free to create an account and ask your questions, or even share your awesome projects!
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Twitter Follow Stereolabs @Stereolabs3D for official news and release announcements.
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GitHub If you come across a bug, please raise an issue in this GitHub repository.
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Email To talk to Stereolabs directly, the easiest way is by email. Get in touch with us at support@stereolabs.com.
