Intel spinoff RealSense and hardware provider TabletKiosk have partnered to integrate 3D facial authentication into point-of-sale (POS) systems for K-12 school nutrition programs. The solution aims to eliminate long cafeteria lines caused by students fumbling for ID cards or PINs.
The partnership embeds the RealSense ID Solution F455 – an active stereo depth sensor with a specialized neural network – into TabletKiosk’s TKANNA POS terminal. As students approach the cashier, they simply glance at the camera. The system then matches their biometric data to their student ID number, automatically processing the payment from their meal account.
A key focus of the solution is privacy. According to RealSense, the system does not store facial images. Instead, schools can train the system using existing photos from their Student Information System (SIS) database or yearbooks. These images are converted into “nonsensical strings of data” – secure biometric templates – which are “impossible to reverse into a picture,” ensuring that facial images cannot be copied or shared.
Martin Smekal, President of TabletKiosk, praised the partnership, noting the speed, accuracy, and affordability of the RealSense technology. “When we looked at developing something similar from scratch, we realized it would have required millions of dollars of investment and years of development,” Smekal said.
The integration is designed to improve operational efficiency, ensure accurate accounting for federal funding, and make sure students get their meals faster. Preliminary testing shows a 15-18 percent increase in meal program participation with TabletKiosk’s mobile point-of-sale solutions, with expectations to boost this further with the TKANNA system.
RealSense formally separated from Intel in July 2025 with $50 million in early-stage funding to focus on AI-powered vision for robotics and biometrics applications.
Sources: RealSense Case Study, RealSense AI
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
