Google is planning on producing 4,000 Android tablets in June which will include camera technology to capture 3D images and track motion.
The 7in device will pack two rear-facing cameras, infrared depth sensors and software to enable it to capture 3D images, sources have told the Wall Street Journal.
Developers could get their hands on the tablet at Google I/O developer conference at the end of June. The aim is to get early adoptors to use the product and create applications to increase usefulness of the device before a consumer launch. A similar method has been adopted with the firm's Google Glass project, which has been in beta since 2012.
Google has already shown off a 5in Project Tango smartphone prototype with similar technology. The Android handset contains a 4-megapixel rear camera, motion tracking camera, depth sensor and dual-vision processors.
The firm is claiming that the device will be able to solve the problem of indoor navigation and be beneficial to those who are visually impaired also.
3D technology is beginning to gain traction in the mobile market, after a failure to take off in the home entertainment space.
Google isn't the only company to be working on incorporating the technology into portable hardware. Although not as comprehensive as Google's prototype, HTC included depth-sensors in its latest HTC One M8, which is able to capture metadata and provide pseudo 3D-effects for images.
Meanwhile, Facebook acquired virtual reality start-up Oculus Rift in March for $2bn and is reportedly focusing on 3D gaming. Samsung is also said to be developing a virtual-reality headset for use with its Android devices but details are sketchy at this time.
