Getting Started with ZED SDK
The ZED SDK is the core software for developing applications with the ZED stereo camera. It provides the tools, libraries, and APIs needed to access the camera’s features.
Key Features
- High Resolution Image Capture: Capture high-res, high frame rate images with ISP for clear, detailed results.
- Inertial Data Integration: Integrate IMUs for improved motion tracking and stability.
- Real-Time 3D Perception: Enable real-time depth perception for 3D-aware applications.
- Localization: Tools to localize the camera within its environment.
- Global Positioning: GPS integration for location-aware applications.
- Spatial Mapping: Create detailed 3D maps for robotics, navigation, and AR.
- Robust Object Detection: Built-in AI for real-time object detection and tracking.
- Body Tracking: Track human bodies for gesture recognition and interactive experiences.
- Multi-Camera Fusion: Use multiple ZED cameras for enhanced spatial understanding.
- Multi-Language Support: C++, Python, C#, and C.
- Seamless Integration: Works with popular development environments and frameworks.
- Extensive Documentation: Comprehensive docs and tutorials.
Getting Started
- Install the SDK: Download and install from the official website.
- Windows: Installation guide
- Linux: Installation guide
- NVIDIA® Jetson™: Installation guide
- Check Your Camera: Run ZED Explorer to check that your camera is detected and streams video. On Linux it is located in
/usr/local/zed/tools/, on Windows inC:\Program Files (x86)\ZED SDK\tools\. - Set Up Your Development Environment: Pick the language you want to work with and set up its tooling.
- Python: Install the Python API (
pyzed) with theget_python_api.pyscript shipped with the SDK. - C++: Configure your IDE and CMake project as described in the C++ setup guide.
- C# / C: See the C# and C API pages.
- Python: Install the Python API (
- Explore Examples and Tutorials: Follow the tutorials to open the camera, retrieve images and depth, and use the SDK modules from your own code, then check the examples.
- Refer to Documentation: Use the docs to learn features and APIs, and the Release Notes to see what changed in each version.
- Start Building: Develop your application using the ZED SDK.
API Languages
The ZED SDK provides APIs in the following languages:
| C++ | Python | C# | C |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
Integrations
ZED cameras interface with third-party libraries and environments:
| Integration | Description | Links | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | ZED Docker | Shows how to run the ZED SDK in a Docker container. | GitHub, DockerHub |
 | ZED ROS 2 | Provides access to ZED data through ROS 2 topics and services. | GitHub |
 | ZED Isaac™ ROS | Use a ZED Camera with Isaac™ ROS and leverage NITROS communication. | Doc |
 | ZED Isaac™ Sim | Simulate ZED cameras with NVIDIA Omniverse™ Isaac™ Sim. | GitHub |
 | ZED Foxglove | Shows how to use Foxglove with ZED cameras. | Doc |
 | ZED YOLO | Uses ZED SDK and YOLO object detection for 3D location of objects. | GitHub |
 | ZED Unity Plugin | Access ZED SDK features in Unity. | GitHub |
 | ZED UE5 Plugin | Access ZED SDK features in Unreal Engine 5. | GitHub |
 | ZED GStreamer | Plugins to use ZED and SDK in a GStreamer pipeline. | GitHub |
 | TouchDesigner | Plugins to use ZED and SDK with TouchDesigner by Derivative. | ZED TOP - ZED CHOP - ZED POP |
 | ZED OpenCV | Capture image, depth, and point cloud and convert to OpenCV format. | GitHub |
 | ZED PyTorch | Uses ZED SDK and PyTorch for 3D object detection and segmentation. | GitHub |
 | ZED MATLAB | Enables utilization of ZED SDK within MATLAB. | GitHub |
 | ZED OpenPose | Real-time multi-person 3D pose detection with OpenPose. | GitHub |
 | ZED OpenGL | Use GPU memory to display camera images and depth with OpenGL. | GitHub |
 | ZED Aruco | Track or relocalize camera position using Aruco marker. | GitHub |
 | ZED PCL | Acquire and display 3D point cloud with PCL. | GitHub |
 | ZED ROS | Provides access to ZED data through ROS topics and services. | GitHub |
 | ZED OpenNI2 | OpenNI2 driver for ZED stereo camera family. | GitHub |