Method and apparatus for active stereo vision

An apparatus, comprising:

• an electromagnetic (EM) wave emitter which, during operation, emits EM waves toward a scene;
• a first sensor which, during operation, captures a first image of the scene in an infrared (IR) spectrum;
• and
• a second sensor which, during operation, captures a second image of the scene in a light spectrum,
• wherein the first image and second image, when processed, enable active stereo vision,
• wherein the EM wave emitter comprises an IR projector which projects a structured IR light during operation, and
• wherein each of the first sensor and the second sensor respectively comprises an IR camera, a red-green-blue (RGB) camera containing one or more pixels capable of receiving light in the IR spectrum, a monochrome camera containing one or more pixels capable of receiving light in the IR spectrum, a RGB camera with dual-band bandpass filtering to allow light in the visible spectrum and the IR spectrum to pass through, or a monochrome camera with dual-band bandpass filtering to allow light in the visible spectrum and the IR spectrum to pass through.