The Goobuy UC-501 USB Camera is 15×15mm 2MP micro USB camera module designed for space-limited equipment and compact industrial vision devices include various robotics vision. It provides 1920×1080@30fps UVC video output through USB2.0, supports USB-A, Type-C and Micro USB interface options, interchangeable M12 lens choices from narrow to ultra-wide FOV, MJPG / YUY2 output, low power operation and project-based cable or connector configuration. UC-501 is suitable for embedded devices, handheld inspection tools, robot grippers, small industrial terminals, narrow machine cavities and compact harsh-equipment observation points where standard USB cameras are too large to integrate.With its compact 15×15mm form factor, the UC-501 combines a 2MP sensor, UVC-compliant output, and M12 lens flexibility to support diverse embedded vision designs. It is widely used in robot end-effectors, AI edge devices, and tight space requiring external vision input, where size, integration simplicity, and system stability are critical.

 

At-a-Glance for System Integration

• Fits in 15×15mm space — designed for robot wrists, dexterous hands, grippers, and compact AI devices
• Zero-Driver UVC — Native plug-and-play for Jetson, ROS, and Windows. (No kernel compilation)
• Stable for long-duration use — suitable for robotics vision
• Low-latency imaging — supports real-time perception and control systems
• <90mA Ultra-Low Power: helps simplify thermal and power budgets in edge AI systems

 

Product Overview

The Goobuy UC-501 is a low-power 2MP miniature USB camera engineered for integration in space-constrained industrial and AI-driven systems. With its 15×15 mm metal housing and UVC compliance, it operates as a compact, plug-and-play vision module across Windows, Linux, Jetson, and Raspberry Pi platforms, enabling rapid deployment in embedded AI environments.

Moving beyond fragile board-level prototypes, this mini USB module delivers enterprise-grade reliability with EMI shielding, thermal stability, and strain-relieved custom cabling (USB 2.0, Type-C, or Micro USB). It is purpose-built for Eye-in-Hand visual servoing, humanoid fingertip manipulation, and teleoperation data collection rigs where standard boxed cameras are physically impossible to integrate.
Goobuy UC-501 is a  low power compact 15×15mm 2MP USB camera module for OEMs and system integrators that need visible video input inside equipment where standard cameras cannot fit. It supports UVC plug-and-play output, M12 lens options, USB-A / Type-C / Micro USB interface choices and project-based cable or connector configuration for embedded devices, handheld inspection tools, robotics vision, small industrial terminals and narrow machine cavities..Its 15×15 mm footprint also enables deployment in egocentric vision capture, wearable AI prototypes, and multi-view data collection setups where standard webcams or industrial cameras are physically too large or difficult to integrate.The UC-501 supports interchangeable M12 lenses and flexible USB interface options (USB 2.0 / Type-C / Micro USB), allowing adaptation to different optical requirements and system layouts in robotics, embedded AI, and industrial applications.

 

Key Features:

• Extremely Small Size: The 15x15mm dimensions make it ideal for integration into tight spaces such as AI box devices, mini robots, handheld terminals. For engineering teams building operator-view, gripper-view, or body-worn prototypes, the UC-501 offers a compact UVC imaging node that is easier to embed into space-limited AI hardware than conventional USB cameras.
• Night or low-light performance makes it suitable for tight space or partially lit environments.
• Plug-and-Play USB Interface USB-C/USB 2.0/UVC compliant — no driver required on Windows/Linux/Android Easily integrates with Jetson Nano, Raspberry Pi, industrial PC, and embedded systems.
• Industrial-Grade Stability Long-term continuous operation supported Optional shielding and EMI-resistant design for noisy environments

 

Use Scenarios

Robotics & Cobots: Navigation, object recognition, precision tasks. Small robot tools, end-effectors and embedded operator-view modules,educational robotics kits (Raspberry Pi/Arduino )

Robot Grippers and Tool-Side Vision in Harsh Environments
Goobuy UC-501 can be evaluated for compact robot grippers, end-effectors and tool-side camera positions used in industrial environments where space, cable routing, vibration and mechanical clearance are limited. It is suitable for close-range operator-view, gripper-view or tool-side visual feedback, but final robot control, synchronization and algorithm validation remain the customer’s responsibility.

Narrow Machine Cavities and Protected Equipment Areas
Goobuy UC-501 can support visual observation inside protected machine areas, narrow cavities, enclosed mechanisms, small compartments and equipment spaces where technicians need visible video access but cannot install a normal camera. Lens, cable, focus distance and mounting direction should be selected according to the actual cavity size and working distance.

Small Industrial Terminals
Small industrial terminals, service panels and embedded operator devices often need a front-facing or side-facing camera module but do not have enough space for a standard boxed camera. UC-501 provides 1080P UVC video in a 15×15mm camera head with optional cable and connector configuration.Compact computing devices with external camera support ( Edge AI device) include AI weighing scale
 

Embedded Devices and Compact OEM Equipment
UC-501 can be integrated into compact OEM devices where the customer already has a USB-compatible host and needs a small camera head for visible video input. Typical examples include embedded controllers, small inspection devices, industrial service terminals, smart maintenance tools and compact monitoring boxes
 

compressed video screenshot of NO DISTORTION MICRO USB CAMERA 2MP

Main technical Parameters

Model No.	UC-501-2MP
Sensor	CMOS 1/2.9” 2MP
Resolution	1920*1080P@30FPS
Output	USB2.0,USB-A / TYPE-C / Micro USB
FOV	3°~230° optional
Focus	Manual
Photo Format	MJPG
Video Output	MJPG/YUY2
White balance	Auto
Microphone	Built-in Microphone
Dimension	Holder: 15*15mm
Length of cable	5cm~10M, standard 2.5M
Power	5V / 130mA, 5V / 90mA max
System	WIN7/8/10/Android/Apple Mac/Linux
Material	Plastic camera with metal lens
Temperature	-10~+70℃

Looking for the Datasheet? Scroll to the footer to download the PDF free.

Note: You can select or interchangeable various EFL following M12 lens models to extend and meet your personalized requirement other EFL Replaceable m12 lens available as following

A1, pinhole m12 lens EFL 2.1/2.8/3.7/5/6/7/8/10/15/20/22/25/30/35/45/70mm

A2, Flat normal m12 lens 1.08/1.39/1.44/1.56/1.7/1.8/2.1/2.8/3.6/4/6/8/9.9/12/16/25/50mm

Supports semi-custom options for lenses, USB interface, housing removal, and product ID renaming, check this UC-501 Page now.

Integration Notes

Works seamlessly as a small Linux UVC compliant camera 1080p with GStreamer and FFmpeg. Perfect as a miniature USB camera for integration into Robots, kiosks, and industrial inspection tools. Provides excellent balance between low power mini USB camera operation and high-quality 1080p output.

Integration & Development/Integration workflow: Connect camera via USB Open any UVC video application Configure resolution and exposure settings Load into your CV or AI pipeline (OpenCV, GStreamer, ROS, custom SDKs) Optimize for inference performance on edge devices The Goobuy UC-501 is suited for rapid prototyping, system validation, and long-term product deployment.

 

Engineering Challenges Solved by Goobuy UC-501 USB Camera

Space Constraint in Robotics Systems

Standard cameras cannot fit into:

robot wrists

grippers

compact AI devices

UC-501 solves this with 15×15mm footprint

The End-Effector Payload & Space Crisis (SWaP-C Optimization)

The Challenge: Adding "Eye-in-Hand" vision to robotic grippers or dexterous hands usually means sacrificing payload capacity or restricting joint movement due to bulky 32mm/38mm camera boards.

The Solution: At just 15x15mm and weighing grams, the UC-501 slips effortlessly into tight mechanical envelopes. Operating at ultra-low power (<90mA), it extends the operational uptime of untethered AMR and mobile manipulation platforms.

Goobuy UC-501 is not positioned as a complete robot perception system. It is a compact UVC camera head that can provide visible video input for customer-owned robot platforms where space, cable routing and mechanical clearance are the main constraints

Engineering Problems goobuy UC-501 Solves
1. Standard cameras cannot fit
Many embedded devices, handheld tools and machine cavities do not have enough room for a normal USB camera board or boxed camera. UC-501 solves the first mechanical problem with a 15×15mm camera head.

2. Camera integration should not require custom drivers
UVC plug-and-play output allows faster testing on Windows, Linux, Android and other compatible host systems without a dedicated SDK.

3. Lens and FOV must match the actual equipment space
UC-501 supports interchangeable M12 lens options, from narrow FOV to ultra-wide or pinhole-style configurations, helping customers match working distance, viewing angle and enclosure constraints.

4. Cable routing is often harder than image capture
In compact equipment, the cable path, connector direction, cable length and strain relief can decide whether the camera can actually be integrated. Goobuy can discuss short cable, long cable, USB-A, Type-C, Micro USB and project-based connector options.

5. Harsh-equipment integration needs validation
Dust, vibration, temperature, enclosure position, lighting and mechanical stress can affect the final camera performance. UC-501 should be validated in the customer’s real equipment before pilot production.

 

Special Demands Met for 2026-2027 Robotics vision:

Dexterous Grasping — fits inside fingers or compact grippers for close-range eye-in-hand vision

AMR / AGV — low-power visual node for obstacle sensing, docking, and downward-view perception

Customization for Robotics & AI Systems Instead of generic customization, UC-501 supports:

Robotics Integration custom cable routing for moving joints reinforced connectors for vibration

Embedded AI Systems ultra-short cable for compact enclosures direct board-level integration

Optical Customization macro lens for close-range manipulation wide FOV for navigation low distortion lenses for perception Firmware Optimization exposure tuning for robotics motion low-latency pipeline optimization

 

NDAA Compliance Statement: "This Goobuy UC-501 USB camera is manufactured in compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Section 889."

 

Why Choose Shenzhen Novel Electronics Limited

Proven integration partner for compact USB cameras in EU and US industrial OEM projects, with real deployment experience in robotics vision, embedded edge AI systems, and harsh-site applications

Flexible hardware customization, including lens selection, compact housing design, and cable routing optimized for space-constrained systems such as robot end-effectors and embedded AI devices

Engineering-oriented support, providing exposure tuning, firmware optimization, and practical integration guidance to accelerate deployment in Jetson, ROS, and embedded AI environments

Experience working with robotics startups, AI hardware teams, and industrial integrators, where camera selection is driven by system constraints rather than specifications alone

 

Integration Capabilities for Engineering Teams

Designed for space-constrained mechanical integration (robot joints, enclosures, compact devices)

Supports direct deployment on Jetson, ROS, and Linux-based AI systems

Flexible lens and cable configurations for different system architectures

Stable UVC output for rapid prototyping and scalable deployment

 

Built for Real-World Deployment

Unlike lab prototypes or development boards, UC-501 is designed for: continuous operation in industrial and robotics environments stable performance under mechanical movement and vibration simplified system integration without complex camera interfaces We focus on solving integration problems where standard cameras fail — not just supplying modules

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. How does the 15x15mm footprint solve Eye-in-Hand vision challenges for robotic manipulation?

In dexterous manipulation, bulky sensors restrict gripper movement and payload capacity. The UC-501's ultra-compact 15x15mm metal housing allows it to be embedded directly into robotic phalanges or end-effectors, providing close-range tactile-visual data without interfering with the mechanical grasp workspace

 

Q2. .

 

Q3. What platforms support the Goobuy UC-501 USB camera for AI or computer-vision workloads?

It is compatible with NVIDIA Jetson Nano/NX/Orin, Raspberry Pi 4/5, x86 Linux PCs, ARM industrial PCs and Android terminals. The UVC interface ensures compatibility with OpenCV, GStreamer, ROS and common AI vision pipelines.

 

Q4. Can the 15×15mm form factor fit into compact or fully enclosed device housings? Yes. The Goobuy UC-501 USB camera is specifically designed for tight mechanical spaces such as thin front panels, compact embedded boxes and integrated vision modules where conventional USB cameras do not fit.

 

Q5

 

Q6. Is goobuy UC-501 camera suitable for tight synchronization in multi-camera edge AI systems?

While strictly a UVC plug-and-play device, its low-latency USB output and highly stable image pipeline make it reliable for software-based synchronization across ROS, OpenCV, and NVIDIA Jetson platforms when building multi-view robotic perception systems

 

Q7. How does the interchangeable M12 lens system benefit VSLAM and object detection? Answer: Different AI tasks require different optics. The UC-501 supports interchangeable M12 lenses, allowing you to quickly swap from a 200° fisheye for VSLAM spatial mapping to a distortion-free macro lens for precise defect inspection, all on the same 15x15mm base module.

 

Q8. What customization options are available for OEM integration? Goobuy supports PCB shape adjustments, cable length modifications, connector changes (USB-A / USB-C / JST), housing variations, lens selection, optical tuning and firmware modifications to match OEM device requirements.

 

Q9. In real-time robotics (e.g., visual servoing), how does USB camera latency actually impact system performance, and can UVC cameras be reliable enough?

Latency in robotics vision is not just about FPS — it directly affects control loop stability. Key considerations: Capture latency (sensor + exposure) Transmission latency (USB pipeline) Processing latency (Jetson / CPU / GPU) UVC cameras like UC-501 can be reliable in real-time systems if: resolution and frame rate are properly balanced exposure time is optimized for motion conditions the system avoids unnecessary buffering In practice, UC-501 is used in: visual servoing systems robot grasping pipelines embedded perception systems Where predictable latency is more important than maximum throughput.

 

Q10. What is required to integrate the Goobuy UC-501 USB camera into an AI or CV software pipeline?

Simply connect via USB, open any UVC-compatible viewer, then load the video stream into OpenCV, GStreamer or your AI model. No special SDK is required, and the camera works with standard CV libraries.