Space missions to go 3D
Many space maneuvers require a 3D understanding of the area involved; to solve this current cameras are placed in “stereo configurations” -- arrangements involving complex math, not the shape of a stereo sound system. Very complicated computations then use these 2D cameras to figure out the third dimension.
3D cameras became available as of 2000. These cameras work by using “time of flight” measurements to create the third dimension, a measure of a coded light signal traveling between camera and object.
Beyond space exploration, the low-cost "flight of time" approach to 3D imaging could have far wider civilian applications -- including cool, next-generation cameras for civilians.
See the full story here: http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/10/05/space-missions-to-go-3d/