THERMAL IMAGING: BUYER BEWARE INDUSTRY INSIGHT: DISTRIBUTORS IMPACT REVEALED
VISION SYSTEMS: THE EXPERTS’ VIEW
INFLUENCER: THE RISE OF CUSTOM SENSORS
ISSUE ISSUE 2322 - OCTOBER - AUGUST 2020
mvpromedia.eu MACHINE VISION & AUTOMATION
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MVPRO TEAM Lee McLaughlan Editor-in-Chief lee.mclaughlan@mvpromedia.eu
Alex Sullivan Publishing Director alex.sullivan@mvpromedia.eu
Cally Bennett Group Business Manager cally.bennett@mvpromedia.eu
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EDITOR’S WELCOME - The innovation game
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INDUSTRY NEWS - Who is making the headlines?
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PRODUCT NEWS - What’s new on the market?
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INFLUENCER Q&A - Caeleste’s Bart Dierickx: The rise of custom sensors
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ADVANCED ILLUMINATION - Multi channel controllers
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INDUSTRY INSIGHT - The power of distributors
22 GARDASOFT - LED lighting controllers & Fastec case study 24
Spencer Freitas Campaign Delivery spencer.freitas@cliftonmedialab.com
Sam O’Neill Senior Media Sales Executive sam.oneill@cliftonmedialab.com
Becky Oliver Graphic Designer Bart Dierickx; Stephen Hayes; Andrea Pufflerova; Markus Tarin; Frans Vermeulen Contributors
Visit our website for daily updates
www.mvpromedia.eu
CONTENTS
BECKHOFF - How scalable are your vision systems?
26 ACTIVE SILICON: Choosing the right vision systems camera 28
PHOTONEO - Getting to the core of industrial 3D vision systems
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COGNEX - Hands free scanning boosts brewer’s logistics capability
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ADVANCED ILLUMINATION Q&A - Driving lighting solutions
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IDS - Setting standards: uEye SE cameras
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OPTO ENGINEERING - Better, faster, stronger: 360° optics family
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ALYSIUM - Let’s talk about flex
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EDMUND OPTICS Q&A - Striving for higher resolutions
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BAUMER - High-speed GigE cameras
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PRIME VISION - 2020 Vision in the face of adversity
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40 MOVITHERM - Temperature measurement solutions 42
MIDOPT Q&A - Rising to the challenge
43 CAMBRIDGE ELECTRONIC - CXP 2.0 44 INSPEKTO - Bosch benefits from autonomous machine vision MVPro Media is published by IFA Magazine Publications Ltd, 3 Worcester Terrace, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3JW Tel: +44 (0)117 3258328
46 IDS - Clever Klaus delivers intelligent image processing
© 2020. All rights reserved
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RS COMPONENTS - China lead AI innovation race
‘MVPro Media’ is a trademark of IFA Magazine Publications Limited. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in any printed or electronic retrieval system without prior permission. All material has been carefully checked for accuracy, but no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies.
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HEAT JOBS
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THE INNOVATION GAME Who knew there was a ‘Steve Jobs Day’ to celebrate the man and his achievements? October 16th was designated ‘Steve Jobs day’ in 2011 by the then Governor of California Jerry Brown and came just days after Jobs had died from cancer aged 56. I discovered ‘Steve Jobs Day’ existed when surfing the net to find out more about him. I’d just watched the self-entitled biopic, which portrayed Jobs as both a ruthless and driven visionary. I expect many of us don’t really know that much about Jobs. Films merely skim the surface – this did – as it focused mainly on those early days, his relationship with Apple and as an innovator at the dawn of the computer revolution in Silicon Valley. His personal characteristics left much to be desired and many US commentators and followers of Jobs have likened him to a modern-day Machiavelli. However, the world as we know it would not be the same but for Jobs. The Apple Mac is revered as a computer, the iPhone and iPad have revolutionised how we work while other Apple products shape our lives – regardless of whether you never owned an Apple product. It has driven imitation and increased competition as other companies try and better Apple’s products – which we all benefit from. So, why shouldn’t we celebrate the genius that was Steve Jobs? Talking of innovation, as we were going to press, news dropped that the organisers of the VISION show were beginning a competition to find the next crop of innovators. “Young companies bring additional dynamism to the sector precisely with their innovations,” said Florian Niethammer, project manager for VISION. The deadline for entries is October 28. You can find out more, including the eligibility criteria, by going to https://startup-pitch.vision-messe.com. Turning to this latest issue of MVPro, there is plenty of innovation spread throughout the pages. Our influencer in this issue, Bart Dierickx, the CTO of Caeleste, is most definitely an innovator and shares his insight into the development of sensors. We have experts from Photoneo, Beckhoff and Active Silicon exploring various aspects of vision systems, while we have probed into the world of distributors. We explore the buying risks posed in thermal imaging sector with Movitherm and have intriguing case studies from Cognex and IDS. As ever, a huge thanks to those that have contributed. Until next time, enjoy the read.
Lee McLaughlan Editor lee.mclaughlan@mvpromedia.eu Arcade Chambers, 8 Kings Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4AB MVPro B2B digital platform and print magazine for the global machine vision industry www.mvpromedia.eu
Lee McLaughlan Editor
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INDUSTRY NEWS
VISION SHOW TO RETURN IN OCTOBER 2021 Messe Stuttgart will stage the next VISION show, the world’s leading trade fair for machine vision, from 5 - 7 October 2021. The trade fair organiser has backed the request from exhibitors and visitors who voted in an extensive survey by a clear majority (75 per cent of surveyed exhibitors and 81 per cent of surveyed visitors) for the event to be held next year.
In addition to the strategic measures initiated in 2020, which includes the launch of the VISION Start-up World, Messe Stuttgart is planning to further enhance the trade fair experience at VISION 2021 through digital supplements. Dr. Klaus-Henning Noffz, director new business development at Basler and chairman of the board of VDMA Machine Vision welcomed the approach by Messe Stuttgart. He said: “VISION is an essential platform for the machine vision industry. We are looking forward to a strong VISION 2021, and once again with many personal meetings with business contacts and friends from all over the world.” MV
Vision will also retain its biennial schedule and be held every two years. The new date is also in parallel with Motek, International Trade Fair for Automation in Production and Assembly. “VISION is also developing just as dynamically as the machine vision industry,” said Florian Niethammer, team director and the project manager responsible for VISION at Messe Stuttgart. “We are using the current challenges to implement other measures which will be beneficial to the world’s leading trade fair in the long term.”
AIA ANNOUNCES INTERNATIONAL VISION SOLUTIONS CONFERENCE The AIA and the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) are launching the International Vision Solutions Conference, a free online event running November 11-12. This conference will complement the robust virtual event schedule offered by A3 this fall.
“Coming out of the COVID-19 crisis, automation will be critical for companies in every industry, and this event will provide the information new and experienced users need to successfully solve their automation challenges.” MV
Two days of conference content will feature sessions from leading global companies in the vision and imaging industry, case studies on cutting-edge technology, and information to help companies solve the unique challenges they face when applying vision and imaging technologies. Registration, a full agenda, keynote speakers, and specific conference session topics will be released within the coming weeks. “Vision and imaging is an integral part of successful automation solutions,” said Jeff Burnstein, President of AIA and A3.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
PPMA LAUNCH MEETING HUB FOR BUSINESS Following the postponement of this year’s PPMA Show, the PPMA Group of Associations has initiated a new MEETING HUB to connect a range of buyers with industry suppliers. The hub, which launched in early September, is FREE-touse and provides a gateway to over 1,500 brands from over 300 PPMA Show 2020 exhibitors. It’s the largest single gathering of processing equipment, packaging machinery, robotics, and industrial vision companies throughout the UK. Visitors can join 1,000s of other industry professionals to experience an eclectic mix of exhibitors’ news releases, product videos and company information; all from the benefit of their home or office. It’s the most comprehensive pool of industry information online until the live PPMA Show returns to the NEC, Birmingham, on 28-30 September 2021. David Harrison, Chief Operating Officer of the PPMA Group of Associations, said: “The Meeting Hub is an extension of our PPMA Show. Each visitor to the PPMA Show website will have unlimited access to hundreds of exhibiting companies from across the processing and packaging spectrum.
“The Hub has been designed with simplicity and ease-ofnavigation in mind. It’s not a replacement for our annual flagship event, but it is a valuable tool for those looking to browse and invest in the latest innovations to improve business efficiencies,” he added. Go to www.ppmashow.co.uk and follow the links to the Meeting Hub. The Hub will be live until 2021. MV
PLEORA EXPANDS INTO EUROPE WITH OEM AUTOMATIC Pleora Technologies has announced an expanding focus on the European imaging market with new channel partner OEM Automatic. Effective immediately, OEM Automatic is distributing Pleora’s market-proven video interface products for imaging system designers and integrators located in Scandinavia. “OEM Automatic has an established presence in the Scandinavian imaging market and will be a key partner as we continue to expand our presence in machine vision applications,” said Niclas Sjögren, sales director EMEA, Pleora Technologies. “Our interface products, coupled with OEM Automatic’s complimentary product line, will help designers and integrators enhance the value of their solutions to gain a competitive advantage.”
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Imaging device manufacturers and system integrators use Pleora’s off-the-shelf video interface hardware and software, system expertise, and standards knowledge to help speed design time, lower costs, and reduce risk. The company’s video interfaces, deployed in over 300,000 endpoints in industrial, medical, and security and defense imaging systems, have the capacity to transmit over 30 billion gigabits of data per day. “We work with world-class technology partners that deliver innovative solutions for manufacturers designing high-performance imaging systems,” said Torbjörn Fjorde, product area manager, Imaging & Vision, OEM Automatic. “Adding Pleora as a technology partner strengthens our product offering and helps us address key performance, reliability, and scalability needs for our customers.” MV
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PRODUCT NEWS
MVTec ANNOUNCES NEW HALCON LAUNCHING NOVEMBER MVTec Software, a leading international provider of machine vision software, will release the new version 20.11 of its standard software HALCON on November 20, 2020. The release comes with many new and improved features that help users further enhance their machine vision performance. These include optimised technologies for code reading, OCR, 3D, deep learning, as well as a face lift of the integrated development environment HDevelop for even better usability. What’s special about this version is that HALCON 20.11 will be released simultaneously for both the Steady and Progress editions. As a result, HALCON Steady customers can now access the many new features available in the last three Progress releases, including anomaly detection, the generic box finder, and optimized identification technologies.
Interested parties can already try out previously released HALCON Progress functions by downloading the latest Progress version 20.05 and requesting an evaluation license. MV
THE FUTURE DEPENDS ON OPTICS™
“The full range of new Progress features is now also available to our Steady customers. With HALCON 20.11, we thus offer a comprehensive range of functions for both models – subscription and regular purchase – so that companies can make their machine vision processes even more efficient and professional,” remarks Mario Bohnacker, technical product manager HALCON at MVTec.
FOR SHOCK & VIBRATION Our range of ruggedized machine vision lenses are specifically designed to perform in environments with high amounts of movement, shock and vibration. Minimize pixel shift and maintain the stability and accuracy of your machine vision system. Stay On Target With Ruggedized Imaging Lenses From Edmund Optics Find out more at
www.edmundoptics.eu/ruggedized
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UK: +44 (0) 1904 788600 I GERMANY: +49 (0) 6131 5700-0 FRANCE: +33 (0) 820 207 555 I sales@edmundoptics.eu
IDS LAUNCH NEW uEye MODELS WITH USB OPTION
2490
Imaging Development Systems (IDS) has launched additional camera variants with 2.1 and 3.1 MP Sony sensors to provide more flexibility for application design and camera integration. For the first time, the company also offers models with upright USB Type-C alignment in this product family. In addition to the previously available uEye LE AF cameras with 6.4 MP (58 fps) and 18.1 MP (20 fps) sensors, customers can now also purchase models with 2.1 (120 fps) or 3.1 MP (80 fps).
THE SMART 3D LASER PROFILER WITH A 2 METER FIELD OF VIEW
All cameras feature a USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface, USB Power Delivery - which can be used, for example, to power an LED light source or a photoelectric sensor - and allow the use and control of liquid lenses. The autofocus function ensures sharp images in the blink of an eye, even if the lens is not physically accessible or if the distance between the lens and the object changes frequently. The board-level cameras are particularly well-suited for applications in fields such as logistics or traffic monitoring. Due to their compact design with dimensions of only 36 x 36 x 20 mm they also prove their strengths in embedded vision systems. This means that they are also good for integration into small medical or industrial devices. Further information: https://en.ids-imaging.com/store/products/cameras/ ids-interface/usb-3.1-gen.-1/ids-family/le/ids-camoptions/ autofocus.html MV
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Scan Large Targets. At Production Speed. Gocator 2490 is able to scan a 1 m x 1 m area at a rate of 800 Hz, delivering 2.5 mm XYZ resolutions even at conveyor speeds of 2 m/s. The sensor also delivers robust quality inspection of surface defects such as punctures, dents, and folds.
Discover FactorySmartÂŽ visit www.lmi3D.com/2490
THE RISE OF CUSTOM-MADE SENSORS In our latest series of key insights with leading figures across the machine vision, automation and robotics sectors, Bart Dierickx a pioneer of CMOS sensors, co-founder and CTO of Caeleste, explains the company’s ability to deliver custom-made sensors and their benefits.
car is a snail compared to a custom designed Formula 1 car, the most ecological commercial vehicle is no match for a custom designed World Solar Challenge participant. So, in terms of a custom-made sensor, variations may relate to pixel size and geometry, raw speed, sparse imaging speed, non-visible wavelengths, smart sensors, radiation hardness, extreme temperatures and many more. MVPro: What is the demand for these, from who and what are the benefits? BD: Our customers are often leaders in their field and want to reach or stay on top in performance.
MVPro: Can you tell us about Caeleste? BD: Caeleste started in 2006 as a design house. Nowadays we are a one stop shop for custom made image sensors and pixel arrays of any kind. Our core activity is still design of such arrays starting from customer’s specs. However, Caeleste has broadened its activities to testing, characterisation and production.
MVPro: How do these differ from a ‘normal’ sensor? BD: Take any specification of an existing state-of-the-art image sensor, say speed, dynamic range, noise equivalent contrast or radiation tolerance etc and make that 10x tougher. That is what we do.
We serve various domains, with notable exceptions of consumer imaging and military. Effectively the largest domains are medical imaging, life sciences, scientific imaging, space and several other smaller niches. MVPro: The company specialises in custom-made sensors. What does a custom-built sensor offer? BD: Custom design offers you the possibility to optimise and focus on target specifications. If you compare it to cars, off the shelf cars are mass produced and you can buy them at you dealer. They are beautiful pieces of engineering, but they must comply to a very large number of criteria at the same time to serve a broad market. The fastest off the shelf
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in space missions, each of them requiring very few image sensors. Yet often the specifications are outside the already existing base of state-of-the-art sensors and need the developments of something outperforming the previous generation. MVPro: Aside from the space sector, what other markets do you expect to see significant growth in custom-made sensors?
MVPro: Can you explain more about the process on designing and delivering a sensor? BD: It all starts with a thorough analysis and understanding, which are the key desired performance parameters. Which ones are trivial and which ones can be sacrificed or be traded-off. Then we follow the conceptual or schematic design followed by the geometrical design and eventually the Silicon foundry process. MVPro: Recently, you’ve been working with the European Space Agency (ESA). How are sensors used in the space industry? BD: There are roughly four categories of image sensors and pixelated sensors in general use in space. The most common are the telescope focal planes, being large area, large pixel arrays, often in nonvisible wavelengths. Attitude sensors are cameras that are part of the stabilisation and orientation (attitude) of the satellite, then we have housekeeping cameras, which are small and serve just to remotely inspect whether the spaceship is in good condition. The most famous examples are the cameras to monitor the bottom of the space shuttle for damage by isolation or ICE during take-off. Finally, one has instrument sensors, such as focal planes of spectrometers or other non-imaging instruments. MVPro: Given the recent launch of the Mars Rover Perseverance and SpaceX – are we witnessing a new era in space exploration and if so, what impact will this have for Caeleste? BD: We are (as far as I know) not for these projects. It is satisfying that there is a continuing and growing interest
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BD: Space, although prestigious and visible to the public, is not our largest market. This is rather the medical and life sciences domain, subdivided in many smaller niches. There are still new developments in medical imaging technology with higher resolution and faster CT equipment. We also expect a fast growth in in vitro and in vivo diagnostics with optical means and we assume that we are only coming near to an explosion of “lab-on-a-chip” or “lab in a package” solutions, where optics and photonics are the preferred means for the diagnostics. MVPro: The company will reach its 15th year next year – are there any plans to mark this? BD: For our 10th anniversary we celebrated in various ways. We started the Electroniade “The unofficial championship of electronics” open to all people, companies and research institutes which has been successful since. We might do something similar. MV
Bart Dierickx He started as a CCD designer at the ESAT department of KU Leuven in 1983. This group merged into IMEC in 1984, where Dierickx pioneered using CMOS as an alternative to CCD from 1984 onwards. In 2000, he co-founded FillFactory, and after acquisition became CTO of Cypress Imaging in 2005. He left to create Caeleste in 2006 with and has served as the CTO since then. Over the years he has developed and supervised the design process of hundreds of image sensors, published many of papers and is inventor of about 50 patents in the domain of image sensing.
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SPONSORED
NEW MULTI-CHANNEL CONTROLLERS FROM ADVANCED ILLUMINATION GROW COMPUTATIONAL IMAGING PORTFOLIO Advanced illumination, the originator of LED lighting for machine vision inspection, releases its new DCS-400E and DCS-800E multi-channel controllers. The DCS400E (Quad Controller) features 4 output channels, while the DCS-800E (Quad X2) features 8 output channels. These Quad Controllers are ideal for applications that require multi-channel lights and/or multi-light stations. Multi-light stations are currently limited to a group of identical light heads; a future development will allow the Quad Controllers to drive up to eight different lights simultaneously. Capable of providing sequenced strobing, the DCS-400E and DCS-800E are perfect for computational imaging applications, including photometric stereo; extended depth of field; combined bright field + dark field; high dynamic range; and highresolution color. The controllers are engineered with Ai’s proprietary SignaTechTM control system which optimizes light performance, delivers exceptional illumination quality, and provides long-term stability for any inspection system. Along with the capability of being custom-programmed, the DCS-400E and DCS-800E have built-in, preprogrammed sequencing, allowing the controllers to cycle through pre-determined lighting “recipes”. This provides users the ability to automatically time a lighting sequence and output a correlated camera trigger, and to do so through multiple pre-programmed routines. As an example, by using the DCS’ frame-start signal, it is possible to synchronise a camera exposure to capture each channel as they flash in a sequence. This is crucial in photometric stereo applications where the camera must be carefully synchronised in order to capture multiple flashes.
controller in a multi-light line, users can conserve valuable space and capital by reducing the number of controllers needed to achieve multiple inspections in one station. And since the DCS-400E and DCS-800E are housed in a compact enclosure with DIN rail mounting, they deliver effective thermal dissipation while integrating seamlessly into vision system applications. The Ai Quad Controllers are currently compatible with the DF198 MicroBriteTM Diffuse Dark Field Ring Light Series, along with a number of other Ai lighting products. An adapter will soon be available to control all Ai lighting products whose power requirements don’t exceed that of the Quad Controllers’ output capacity. Founded in 1993, Advanced illumination was the first lighting company to develop and sell an LED lighting product and has continued being a global leader in the machine vision industry ever since. Ai combines innovation in product development and process control to deliver tailored lighting solutions to its customers. Ai has stock products that ship in 1-3 days and hundreds of thousands of Build-to-Order lights that are ready to ship in 1-3 weeks. Their customers face unique challenges regarding their ever-evolving inspection systems; Ai is here to innovate with them. For more information, please visit our website: www.advancedillumination.com MV
The Quad Controller family is not limited to computational imaging; the controllers provide sequenced overdrive strobing or continuous-on drive modes, making the DCS-400E and DCS-800E perfect for standard machine vision applications requiring multichannel lights and/or multi-light stations. By using one
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THE POWER OF DISTRIBUTORS
Do not underestimate the power of distributors – that is one clear statement to have come out the MVPro survey into the role they play in the machine vision industry.
Allan Anderson, founder and managing director of Clearview Imaging, which topped the poll asking ‘which distributors had you bought from’ welcomed the findings.
A brand strategist noted that distribution contributed in two major ways for businesses – it increases brand accessibility which can be converted to brand purchases; more importantly, it increases brand exposure which increases awareness.
“I think it’s excellent to have a debate around the key role that distributors play within the machine vision sector and reviewing the results has been really interesting” he said.
It is very clear that businesses and distributors need each other and that the relationship benefits both. Furthermore, distributors also deliver significant benefits to purchasers. Our survey – of eight distributors based in the UK and USA - aimed to assess the impact distributors play as well as explore the importance of their shop window – their websites - and the influence these play in the buying processes. The full results of the survey can be viewed over the next three pages, while our reviews of the websites can be found on pages 18-21. The key findings about purchasing were: • 81 per cent buy from a distributor • 17 per cent buy from the manufacturer • 51 per cent make their purchases online and 24 per cent buy via phone • 34 per cent spend $1-5k annually with 30 per cent spending $25k+ The key findings about distributor websites were: • 92 per cent said website quality was ‘very important’
“The key elements for me, which are highlighted in the results, are that customers value and expect product knowledge and expertise from a distributor. At the same time, an important take-home message is that customers want to buy online and the process of buying must be easy. “At ClearView, we have always prided ourselves on having huge amounts of product and technology expertise, which runs through all our departments, in addition to offering engineering services, to go above and beyond the typical ‘box shifter’ distributor. Beyond our own product and technology expertise, we continue to invest in operations to ensure that buying is as easy as possible.” Multipix, which performed well in the rating of its website, will use the results of the survey to enhance its online presence. “This survey has provided valuable feedback and confirms the important role distributors have in the machine vision industry,” said Lynne Potter, head of marketing & communications at Multipix. “It is clear that customers respond well to a website that contains not only concise product information but also acts as a resource centre for customers. Multipix Imaging constantly reviews the company’s online presence to offer the best experience possible and the survey confirms we are working in the right direction.
• Product knowledge/information, expertise and price were three key elements in choosing a distributor
“Whilst we now offer the ability to buy popular industrial products online, we strive to understand as much a possible about our customers’ requirements so we can then advise on the best technology that provides a successful solution.” MV
• Three most purchased products were cameras, lenses and cables
**The website reviews were undertaken independently by MVPro. On certain sites some elements were only accessible to account holders.
• Navigation and easy purchasing process were most important factors
The findings from the survey, will give distributors valuable insight into their business models.
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DISTRIBUTOR SURVEY THE RESULTS
1. Where do you purchase your machine vision components?
2. How do you make your machine vision purchases?
3. How many of your machine vision purchases are from an online distributor?
4. How important is the quality of the distributor website when making a purchase?
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5. When buying online, how important are these website elements in your choice of distributor? (rank in order of importance)
6. When purchasing online from a distributor, how important are these elements in your choice of distributor. (rank in order of importance)
7. Which of these machine vision distributors have you heard of?
8. Which of these distributors have you bought from?
9. What products do you purchase from a distributor?
10. On average, how much do you spend on machine vision products each year?
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11. Please can you rate the following distributor websites out of 10 in your opinion – 1 being poor, 10 being excellent.
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MULTIPIX
https://multipix.com/
Website
Expertise/product guides Has a knowledge base section which covers the product range. Also has a ‘How to’ section.
Home page is well designed and there’s no issues locating products, contact details or extras like support or even buying online. Good use of eye-catching images in the banners.
Choice of brands
Navigation
Range of products
Well known options like Euresys, Flir, Midopt, Xenics, MVTec but also stocks lesser known brands across the categories to broaden the options.
Tabs easily identify the types of products on the home page with drop down menu offering the type of products in the category. It also has eight simple boxes that highlight product sectors and a simple click will bring the sub-category sections. Very user friendly.
Usual categories of cameras, lenses, 3D vision, software, lighting, accessories, frame grabbers plus robotics, high speed and vision box. It is the subcategories from the drop-down tabs that show the range on offer.
In addition, the home page also offers news, tabs for support, events and contact details as well as links to case studies, knowledge base and the industries supported. It’s very clear on each page for the user and has comprehensive lists/menus so easy to find what you want.
Prices
Good use of imagery – clean and simple.
Online purchasing process Small range of products can be bought online – providing you have an account.
Online help
Visible to account holders looking to purchase low volume and popular items
Areas distributed to UK and Ireland.
Contact details Phone number, email, and address on every page footer.
Other A member of UKIVA, Multipix offers comprehensive training plus regular free-to-attend Wise Up events to educate on the latest vision technology/inspection techniques.
Offers an online chat facility as well as an option to email the support team or call.
Mobile optimised Yes – and arguably laid out better than the website!
CLEARVIEW IMAGING
https://www.clearviewimaging.co.uk/en/
Website Home pages immediately strikes you as people/ customer orientated – as not about products. Video case studies, free e-book and a whole ‘meet the team’ page. It is aimed at delivering very personal experience.
Navigation Range of easy to understand tabs but no dropdown menus. ClearView take a different approach with ‘solutions’ at the heart of the site and offering expertise in products or systems. Systems is again driving ‘communication’ and identifies the sectors / industries and example case studies for each. Very crisp and clear, contact details easy to locate and the website also offers Spanish as a language option.
Online purchasing process
Expertise/product guides Resource tab offers three e-books and an ‘overview’ of machine vision.
Choice of brands Fewer brands but all very mainstream.
Range of products Usual options of lenses, lighting, cameras (all kinds), accessories plus dedication options for bin picking, lasers and vision systems.
Prices None available
Areas distributed to UK, Ireland and Europe
Contact details Phone number on home page, details at foot of every page and dedicated contact page.
You need to contact sales to purchase.
Other
Online help
Offer a half hour free consultation. Clearview is a member of UKIVA.
Yes
Mobile optimised Yes
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ALRAD
Mobile optimised
https://alrad.com/
Yes
Website
Expertise/product guides
Uncomplicated home page, which is keen to stress business as usual. Easy to locate contact details. A nice touch on the home page (after scrolling) is the latest products. Very obvious ‘special offers’ tab which also catches the eye.
Navigation Differs from the competition as doesn’t follow a convention of tabs by products - e.g. lenses, cameras, lighting. Has eight tabs – but no dropdown menus – and includes the likes of thermal, electronics, vacuum along with imaging, photonics, medical, security and embedded. A feeling that more specialist knowledge is required by the user to source a product. Using the search facility is an easier / quicker option to locate products.
Support tab provides some guides for camera selection, lens terminology and CCTV lens calculator. Other technical support – either call or complete the online form.
Choice of brands Lists 75 manufacturers some very well-known others more niche, with Alrad claiming exclusivity with a number of companies.
Range of products Huge. Imaging brought up 46 categories alone – with a glut of sub-categories under these, such as nine for the different range of lenses.
Prices N/a
There is an ability to sort products by age of product, price (though these can’t be seen) and alphabetically.
Areas distributed to
Each of the sections breaks down to the products and each product page has a wealth of information including a product datasheet, plus a link to request a quote for the product.
Contact details
One bonus is an ‘Amazon style’ you may also like offering alternative products.
Alrad is celebrating 50 years in the business this year and is a member of UKIVA and PPMA.
Information not available online. Aside from the phone numbers, option to ‘request a quote’, plus a contact form.
Other
Online purchasing process From the sample products looked at, to begin the purchasing process is a need to ‘request a quote’.
Online help Yes. Online chat is available.
1ST VISION
https://www.1stvision.com/
Website Simplistic approach. Strong use of images to identify categories, e.g. lenses, cameras, cables and lighting. No banners, offers, pop-ups.
Navigation All about the categories via the images. The ‘tabs’ are for basic information only. There is a ‘menu’ tab which does offer sub-categories for cameras, lenses, cables, software and accessories, which are also displayed in ‘tab’ format. A click brings up ‘excel’ style pages which are functional.
Online purchasing process The website is primarily set up for users to get quotes or discuss product requirements. However, within the menu, there is an option to buy online, which isn’t obvious.
Online help Customer support available to discuss machine vision needs. No online chat facility.
Mobile optimised Yes
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Expertise/product guides Has a ‘Knowledge base’ which is a collection of articles under various categories but not easy viewing given how it’s laid out. Access limited with a number of articles requiring user to complete a registration form. Website also has a blog – but again, not easy on the eye.
Choice of brands Wide range of industry leading brands in each category.
Range of products Substantial list of products across all category ranges.
Prices No prices – user has to submit details to get a quote.
Areas distributed to Sole focus on North America.
Contact details Contact number visible on home page. Canada and US contact numbers and email address at foot of home page, while also a pop-up form via ‘contact’ tab.
Other N/a
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SABER1
https://www.saber1.com/
Website Strong visuals. Good use of banners and slideshow to promote key services, products and USPs.
Navigation Clearly labelled ‘product’ tabs at the top of the banner. No matter which page you go to – this is always there. The tabs have dropdown menus listing by manufacturer. For cameras, not only identifies the manufacturer but also the type whether by connection type or use – 3D, thermal, smart camera etc. Product tabs takes user to manufacturers relevant section. Good knowledge required by user to select via this method.
Online purchasing process
Choice of brands Excellent choice of leading brands in the machine vision space in all of its product sectors.
Range of products The list of 10 tabs on the website illustrates a wide product range.
Prices N/a
Areas distributed to Saber1 only delivers to the USA. Large map indicates expected delivery time.
Contact details The phone number is unmissable on the home screen. A nice touch is the option to click on it and then use an ‘app’ like Skype to call them. Email and address easy to find on the website.
Order by email or phone. Not able to purchase online.
Other
Online help
Offers a customised items service – but non-returnable. The website also has configurators for cameras, cables and enclosures.
Range of email options for new and existing customers. There is a customer support email to discuss machine vision requirements but no online chat function.
Mobile optimised Yes.
Expertise/product guides Provides four industrial examples of how machine vision can be used with product solutions.
WILCO IMAGING
https://www.wilcoimaging.com/
Website Strong visuals with revolving banner sharing insights into products and services on offer – plus specialisms like sensor glass removal. Each slide has a call to action button. Home page also showcases four key elements offered with customisation and design and development without any effort to find if this is an option along with just purchasing.
Easy navigation Just six tabs, so nothing too hard to grasp, with dropdown menus for products (under shop) and services. It has a comprehensive list of machine vision items including cameras, lenses, cables, filters, lighting and these can be sorted by price or popularity.
Online purchasing process
Choice of brands Good choice of leading brands in the machine vision space.
Range of products The website has 13 categories of machine vision items including cameras, lenses, cables, filters, lighting and these can be sorted by price or popularity. Comprehensive selection in some categories but not all.
Prices The price of every off the shelf item is listed – which is really good for price comparisons.
Areas distributed to Based in California but will deliver worldwide (answered via online chat).
Contact details
Bonus points for being able to purchase products online. You do need a US address.
Contact number and address plus a contact form.
Online help
Offers a range of services including supply chain management, custom imaging solutions and sensor glass removal.
Offers an online chat facility, which is a definite bonus.
Mobile optimised
Other
Yes.
Expertise/product guides No online guides to assist with choice of product. Ideal if you know what you want, however the online chat facility compensates for this.
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STEMMER IMAGING
https://www.stemmer-imaging.com/
Website A strong European presence – so option to choose country and language – with English, German, French, Italian language options dependent on the country. Delivers an overview of information including news, events and Stemmer Imaging run online courses. More subtle approach to machine vision industry. There is certainly a ‘no-expense spared’ feel.
Navigation The investment in the site shows. While simple one-word tabs identify sections easily, there are dropdown menus for products, services, markets that make it easy for users. Hovering over the categories shows the sub-categories, again simple but effective enabling ‘easy find’ based on product or market. With tabs ‘learn’, news & events, company, investors and contact – clarity is strong point.
Online purchasing process
section boasting European Imaging Academy. There are also handbooks, a knowledge base, videos and technical tips covering products and topics.
Choice of brands Offers an A-Z search and works with more than 50 suppliers and manufacturers.
Range of products Stemmer Imaging boasts Europe’s biggest warehouse of machine vision components. Nine categories covering cameras, optics, illumination, cables, accessories, vision systems, software, computers and acquisition. Plenty of choice – and information to assist the user.
Prices N/a
Areas distributed to Websites cover 19 European countries and has staff in Latin America and Asia.
Contact details
No option to buy online. Product pages promote calling or emailing sales team.
No number or email visible. Click the contact section. Also contact details on each product, category, sub-category page.
Online help
Other
No chat facility. Does offer a callback option.
Mobile optimised Yes – tabs are in the ‘hamburger’.
Stemmer Imaging is a member of a number of organisations and on various machine vision committees, playing an active role in the industry.
Expertise/product guides Definitely a strong point of Stemmer Imaging with online events and on-site training (when possible). Also has a ‘learn’
UNIFORCESALES
https://www.uniforcesales.com/
can be done by industry or A-Z. Also has a number of manufacturer videos available.
Website
Choice of brands
Strong visuals. Good use of banners and slideshow to promote key services, products and USPs. Home page is, a little cluttered, but all the key information accessible via tabs at top and a site map at the bottom. Has a featured product tab and also an application tab – which is great for identifying products for particular sectors.
Range of products
Navigation
Limited but strong range of brands including Matrox, Teledyne Dalsa, JAI, Kowa and Midopt. Despite limited brands has a wide range of hardware – cameras, lenses, lighting, frame grabbers, software, accessories and more. A total of 13 categories, which sub categorise via manufacturer where relevant.
Good use of tabs both for company information and products. On the main sub heading pages good use of tabs for product range. Easy to get around the website – with the site map always available.
Product ranges also come with detailed information, pdfs, images and potential applications. Also have their own range of unique products.
Online purchasing process
Not available
Can request a quote for products – but ‘order’ tab didn’t work when reviewed..
Online help
Prices Areas distributed to North America.
Dedicated ‘support’ page. Range of contact options – phone or email. No ‘online’ chat facility
Contact details
Mobile optimised
Other
Yes.
Clearly visible on home page plus a detailed contact page. N/a
Expertise/product guides Support’ tab offers range of manuals and ‘solutions’ which
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SPONSORED
PRACTICAL USE OF
LED LIGHTING CONTROLLERS
Since a good image is essential to the successful performance of every machine vision system, it comes as no surprise that LE D lighting controllers can help deliver the best results. Jools Hudson of Gardasoft Vision explains the key considerations for machine vision lighting control. A good lighting controller will provide the careful and reliable control of illumination intensity that is needed to get the best out of a machine vision system. It can bring enhanced performance, greater versatility and better integration of the lighting system. Key areas of performance enhancement include LED overdriving capabilities and providing outstanding stability of LED intensity output. Added versatility comes through the ability to facilitate the imaging of fast moving products through strobing as well as precision trigger sequencing between vision cameras, lights and other system elements (such as rotary encoders) to allow the automation of complex lighting and imaging sequences. The provision of Ethernet connectivity greatly simplifies system integration, while built-in safety features automatically protect the LEDs from possible damage.
DOUBLE BONUS FROM PULSING LED light controllers allow LEDs to also be operated in pulsed mode where the lighting is switched on only when required. Pulsing enables users to eliminate motion blur from the sensor, thereby freezing the image of fast-moving objects – a crucial requirement in many production line environments. Gardasoft light controllers allow fine adjustment of the pulse timing, which is often more flexible than adjusting the camera timing. Another important benefit that pulsing brings for users is the possibility of ‘overdriving’ the LED. At their specified current rating, LED lights output 100 per cent brightness, but it is possible to increase that by driving short pulses at more than the manufacturer’s current rating. This is particularly useful where light levels are low, such as imaging fast moving objects with very short camera exposure times where additional light intensity is needed to produce good quality
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images. Using LED lighting control to provide accurate overdriving is a powerful technique for machine vision, but it must be done safely. Gardasoft’s patented SafeSense™ technology does just this. When a light is connected, the SafeSense™ technology determines the actual rating of the light and imposes safe working limits based on the pulse width and duty cycle for overdriving, thus providing full protection. This is particularly important in the high power controllers needed for the latest high power LEDs, given that controllers in the Gardasoft range have options of strobing up to 20A on each channel.
VERSATILE TRIGGERING TOPOLOGIES The versatility of precision trigger sequencing between the lighting controller, cameras, and other components such as rotary encoders offers a variety of camera triggering topologies. These include traditional triggering arrangements where the camera is triggered by a sensor at the infeed of the manufacturing sub-process, or the sensor triggering the light controller which then triggers the camera. Lighting controllers also make it possible to individually trigger multiple lights at different intensities and durations in a predefined sequence to highlight different features in different images. This allows multiple measurements to be made using a single camera station instead of needing multiple stations. MV Find out more Get a free white paper on the practical use of lighting controllers: http://www.gardasoft.com/practical-use-ofcontrollers/. Author: Jools Hudson, Gardasoft Vision Ltd, Buckingway Business Park, Cambridge, UK vision@gardasoft.com www.gardasoft.com
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SPONSORED
DEMONSTRATING VERY
HIGH SPEED IMAGING
Fastec Imaging wanted a compelling but simple demonstration of their very high-speed cameras. Working closely with Gardasoft Vision, Fastec developed an ultra-fast pulsed lighting system to capture the dynamics of liquid droplets HIGH SPEED VIDEO ANALYSIS High-speed video capture can be used to analyse events that are too fast for the human eye. These systems use very high-speed digital cameras and are helpful in a wide range of industries. Playing back video at reduced speed reveals events that would otherwise be missed. To capture these very high-speed events, Fastec Imaging has developed the HS range of digital cameras which are capable of frame rates exceeding 10,000 frames per second (fps).
THE LIGHTING CHALLENGE With high frame rates and short exposure times, getting enough light into the camera to allow the acquisition of high-quality images is of critical importance. The Fastec HS7 camera operating at 10,000 fps has a maximum exposure time of just 1/10,000 second (100 microseconds). The desktop demonstration system was based on the generation of water droplets using a manual eye dropper. This needed to occupy little space, use as few bulky components as possible, and produce consistently good results. The lighting system needed to be eye safe for those present at the demonstration and illuminate the droplets without creating any motion blur in the image.
SOLVING THE PROBLEM The lighting system developed for the demonstration unit featured a high luminance white one-inch square LED backlight (TH2-27X27SW) from CCS Inc., with light output controlled using a Gardasoft FP220 two channel lighting controller. A manually operated eyedropper was supported in a frame, with the drops illuminated from behind, as this helps to define edges of the droplets as well as both internal and external structure. Images of
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the droplets are captured using the Fastec HS7 camera equipped with a macro lens with a magnification of 1:2. The FP220 lighting controller features a unique output drive technology which can create very fast, accurate light pulses and is designed for high-speed, high-power pulsing with low power dissipation. It can operate at trigger rates up to 10 kHz, with a maximum overdrive pulse output of 20A. For this application the light was run with a pulse width of 5 µs to eliminate motion blur and was overdriven at 300 per cent of the maximum current during these pulses to deliver the amount of light needed to produce noise-free images.
TICKING THE BOXES Tim Brandt, Fastec product manager, said: “I can now demonstrate our high-speed cameras in my office with little preparation and get a compelling video every time. We are working with Gardasoft and CCS on several future projects in industrial applications.” A full case study for this application is freely downloadable at: www.gardasoft.com/ultra-fast-lighting-system . The video is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ q7FCQkgUtAI MV Author: Jools Hudson, Gardasoft Vision Ltd, Buckingway Business Park, Cambridge, UK vision@gardasoft.com www.gardasoft.com. Fastec Imaging www.fastecimaging.com
FASTEC
Imaging
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HOW SCALABLE ARE YOUR
VISION SYSTEMS? The first machine vision (MV) system as we might think of it today was launched in 1931. It was a colour sorting machine, using filters and photomultiplier detectors to optically sort products. In the nearly 100 years since this machine, MV has become a staple of industry, used in everything from quality assurance to robotic picking systems. As the need for MV grows, Stephen Hayes, managing director of Beckhoff Automation UK, explains how engineers can simplify vision processing to improve efficiency and scalability. Visual inspection is an increasingly important aspect of modern industrial processes. Whether it is used for assisting in sorting bulk materials in pharmaceutical processing, inspecting the quality of produce in food manufacturing or informing the positioning of a delta robot in packaging, MV significantly increases the efficiency and productivity of various industrial processes. It’s for this reason that the latest figures from MarketsandMarkets estimate the global machine vision market to be valued at $9.6 billion in 2020, with it expected to grow to $13bn by 2025. Even this figure is likely overshadowed by the value it adds to industrial businesses annually, by virtue of increasing throughput, minimising faulty products and reducing labour time for inspection tasks. However, there remains one consistent challenge with MV systems, which is the ease of configuration
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and processing. This, in turn, affects the scalability. Typically, MV systems are connected to a specialised, high performance industrial computer that is separate to a plant’s other automation systems. A setup like this means that specialist knowledge is needed to adjust system parameters and configure cameras, in an environment that is often unfamiliar to many automation engineers.
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The specialism required presents not only a limitation to the scalability of MV systems in terms of the availability of skills to programme and manage the processing system itself, but also a barrier to true efficiency.
(PLCs), human-machine interface (HMI), motion control and high-end measurement technology. With everything all in one platform, machines can respond to vision input data in real-time, eliminating delays in motion systems.
For example, imagine a food processing plant where one vision inspection system is required for raw material sorting, another for raw material defect identification, a third MV system for quality assurance post-processing and finally an MV-equipped robotic system for packaging. In this scenario, a change to the production process would require quick adjustment of multiple systems, and any issues would need to be addressed by a small number of skilled technical staff. For large operations, it’s a high cost option that simply isn’t scalable.
The PLC environment also means that the system uses PLC programming languages and the same configuration tools as used for fieldbuses. This means that adjusting MV systems is an easier task for automation engineers, allowing easy configuration and calibration of cameras, as well as supporting an instant review of any changes made.
There is also the matter of latency. If the image processing is completed on a separate system to the motion control and automation, then that data needs to be sent to the relevant systems, where it is actioned accordingly. The logical solution is to integrate MV processing and management into the same system as the motion control and automation, to increase responsiveness and to support more engineers to adjust the vision processing software. This is what Beckhoff has recently done with the launch of TwinCAT Vision, an extension to our TwinCAT 3 PC-based control software.
In addition, TwinCAT Vision builds on the Beckhoff open control technology philosophy. The system is hardwareneutral, meaning it works with both line-scan and areascan cameras via a GigE Vision interface. This makes it applicable to all manner of MV applications. MV systems have come a long way from the optical sorting systems of the 1930s, with advanced functionality and increased importance. Just as the physical systems continue to develop, it’s important we also look at new ways of advancing processing software to ensure these systems continue to provide efficiency for years to come. MV
TwinCAT Vision brings image processing into a single platform alongside programmable logic controllers
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HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAMERA FOR YOUR
VISION SYSTEM Today’s market offers a plethora of innovative machine vision cameras, but what do you need to know when selecting hardware for your application? Frans Vermeulen of Active Silicon offers some brief pointers.
thereby calculating distance. Other 3D vision technologies include stereo vision and structured-light. Stereo vision uses two cameras, similar to the way in which human eyes work, but relies heavily on algorithms which can solve correspondence issues between the two cameras. Structured-light involves projecting known patterns onto the object and reviewing the pattern distortion, a method which works well for static objects but is subject to blurring due to a low frame rate. 3D cameras are ideal for enhanced production line inspection where understanding volume and distance are needed, or for mobile applications requiring object avoidance. 2D cameras are by far the most widely used and perform very well when consistently-shaped parts are presented to vision sensors on a flat surface. CCD sensors have been overtaken in popularity by CMOS sensors, as these have become less expensive, offer high resolution and are able to keep up with advancements in line with Moore’s Law. Example applications are industrial inspection in a controlled environment, such as checking for foreign objects on a production line.
Infrared cameras capture the IR rays emitted by the target object to calculate edges and absence/presence detection. They are excellent for differentiating between materials but operate best in low-light conditions,
3D cameras capture a perception of depth. Although today’s 3D cameras are still relatively bulky, they are offering new options in picking and placing for industrial robots. Time of Flight (ToF) cameras have become increasingly more affordable over the past five years or so and offer an inexpensive method of 3D imaging. They work by measuring the time it takes for infrared light emitted by the camera to reach the subject and return,
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making them well-suited to, for example, leak detection. Ultrasonic, or sonar, cameras measure sound waves rather than light, so can be effective regardless of lighting conditions. Sonar cameras are best used in dark, dusty or smoky environments but can be affected by interference from noise, humidity and pressure. Ideal applications are collision avoidance and measuring liquid levels. Multispectral and hyperspectral cameras encompass sensors which can detect light across a broader spectrum than the human eye and interpret this into useful data. Multispectral cameras have seen wide use in military applications while hyperspectral modules are being more widely introduced in medical imaging, to differentiate between different tissue types, and in agriculture, to monitor crop health and hydration levels. Increased use of ROVs and drones is leading to a larger market sector for these cameras. You can read more about the use of these cameras in our blog, “Applications for multispectral and hyperspectral imaging”. Area scan v line scan cameras. JAI has compiled an excellent white paper on the different benefits of color line scan and area scan cameras. This is well worth a read to understand which option will work best for your application, and also gives a very interesting overview of Bayer, prism and trilinear camera technologies. As outlined in the paper, area scan cameras are a good choice for inspecting items which have clear boundaries and are presented uniformly. However, line scan cameras offer resolutions far greater than those of area scan and are ideal for moving objects such as those on a conveyor belt.
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Active Silicon offers a range of autofocus-zoom cameras which are ideal for vision systems requiring highspeed, high-resolution image processing. This includes two new options with a global shutter sensor for enhanced industrial inspection, remote surveillance, law enforcement, ITS and aerospace applications, allowing images of fast-moving objects to be captured without the distortion that occurs with rolling shutters. Output options across our block cameras include HD-SDI, 3G-SDI, USB, HDMI and HD-VLC™ for extremely long cable requirements. MV
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GETTING TO THE CORE OF
INDUSTRIAL 3D VISION SYSTEMS Andrea Pufflerova of Photoneo, a leading company that develops industrial 3D vision and robotic intelligence software, explains the ‘secret ingredients’ of robust 3D scanning.
Vision-guided robots are an inherent part of the most advanced automation systems and as such are quickly becoming commonplace in all kinds of industrial applications. These, however, often pose challenging conditions to the deployed 3D vision systems, which might not only affect their performance but can also damage hardware. The competition is strong, market demands are extremely high, and the number of applications that require automation is constantly rising. What are the essential features that make some 3D vision systems better for tough industrial applications than others and how to choose the right device?
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Photoneo, a leading company that develops industrial 3D vision and robotic intelligence software, put together major features that make a 3D vision system resistant to adverse conditions of industrial settings. Based on these, the company developed its next generation of PhoXi 3D Scanners that provide stable performance even when exposed to challenging industrial environments or varying temperatures. So, what are the “secret ingredients” that make 3D scanning devices more durable, reliable and flexible with respect to meeting the requirements of all customers?
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HIGH INGRESS PROTECTION RATING The first prerequisite is the durability of a 3D scanner. This is defined by the international Ingress Protection Rating system (IP code). The IP code consists of two digits - the first one indicates how much solid intrusion the device can handle, and the second digit specifies the degree of its tolerance to moisture or water. Industrial-grade 3D scanners should aim for a minimum of IP65. Scanners with this rating are completely dust-tight and protected against low-pressure, 6.3 mm jets of water coming from any direction and at any angle. However, customers should bear in mind that although IP65 protects hardware from the intrusion of liquids and fine particles, the exposure to these factors may result in a lower quality and higher noise of scans as they have a significant impact on the optical conditions of the acquisition.
THERMAL STABILISATION Another factor that may significantly affect the scanning performance and final output is extreme temperatures - be they too low, too high, or even varying. To prevent failures of the device, it needs to feature an advanced thermal calibration model. This will ensure stable and reliable performance even in challenging thermal conditions.
POWER OVER ETHERNET 3D scanning devices often feature two connectors - a custom connector providing electric power, and Ethernet or USB connector enabling data communication. This setup poses several drawbacks - from a higher price for two separate cables to a more complicated installation or limited cable length. A more sophisticated solution is Power over Ethernet that provides both data and power over a single cable. The benefits include a lower price, easier installation, great flexibility as it guarantees interoperability between different suppliers, and the possibility to use cables longer than 30 metres. Going one step further to meet the requirements of all customers, some devices offer an additional, secondary option to power them by 24v. This alternative is also reliable and safe, as it operates with limiting circuits to protect against short circuits, and it also has higher ridethrough capabilities, which helps the devices better survive voltage sags.
RUGGED M12 CONNECTORS A reliable and rugged connection can best be achieved by using M12 connectors with screw-on locks. They protect the device from dust, moisture, and other contaminants, but also against the effects of impact, vibration and other disturbances. This makes M12
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connectors an ideal choice for devices deployed in tough industrial environments. Another advantage is their compact size, given the increasing need for the miniaturisation of industrial components and the evergrowing requirements on power and data transmission.
HIGH-PERFORMANCE GPU Time is a crucial factor in 3D scanning. Every customer is looking for a device that will provide highestquality scans in the shortest time possible. Being an essential component of the overall scanning time, the computation time plays an important role here as well. Computation time savings can be achieved by utilising a powerful graphics processing unit (GPU). A fast GPU can significantly shorten the cycle time or, in case of a longer acquisition, it can provide data of even higher quality. Another big advantage of using a GPU is that the computation runs directly on the device, which saves PC resources and leaves space for more user applications.
POWERFUL FIRMWARE To provide strong and reliable performance, an industrialgrade 3D vision system does not only need to feature a durable body and advanced hardware components but also powerful firmware. Ideally, firmware should include sophisticated algorithms for ambient light suppression so that the scanning performance does not get affected by bright ambient light settings, as is usually the case with ordinary 3D vision systems.
Another important feature is reflection filtering that removes artifacts occuring in areas where the reflection of projected patterns causes noise and consequently also incorrect measurements. This problem occurs when a scanning device uses its own illumination method but can successfully be avoided by implementing an advanced reflection filter. The powerful combination of all the above features ensures durability, stability, reliability and a high performance even in demanding conditions of industrial environments. The new generation of PhoXi 3D Scanners by Photoneo is yet another proof that 3D machine vision technology enters a new era of the feasible. MV
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HANDS-FREE SCANNING
BOOSTS BREWER’S LOGISTICS CAPABILITY
German brewer Flensburger turned to Cognex when it needed a reliable and robust hands-free solution for barcode reading at its enlarged logistics centre.
Each Linde forklift truck mast has two DataMan 360 Series barcode readers installed on it and the readers reliably read the 1D barcodes on the pallets to be loaded. Aging handheld laser scanners are considered outdated technology: When the forklift drivers load trucks at the Flensburger brewery with filled kegs or beer crates, a Cognex barcode reader mounted on the mast recognises the pallet label and scans the barcode. This not only saves time, but enhances safety in congested forklift and truck traffic, and has proven its worth since the technology was installed. In beverage logistics, operations centres require large amounts of goods to be handled at high speed. This is particularly true for the Flensburger brewery, as the company has achieved growth in a virtually stagnant market and sold a record of 628,000 hectolitres of beer in 2018.
of robust and high-performance multi-pallet forklift trucks that convey the »Flens» to the trucks. In addition, Jetschke is responsible for incorporating mobile scanning solutions into the information flow, i.e. into Flensburger brewery’s merchandise management system. Historically, the forklift drivers were equipped with a handheld scanner, with which they recorded the pallets to be loaded. A terminal in the forklift truck cabin displayed which lorry was to be loaded with the respective pallet and once the pallet was scanned and put on the lorry, the system registered the item as ‘loaded’. This is a common practice in many companies.
In other words: 172,000 litres of beverages were brewed and bottled per day and divided into 17 kinds. The nonalcoholic beverage segment is also seeing strong growth, which has facilitated a business decision to build a new, larger logistics centre.
A NEW CODE-READING SOLUTION FOR PALLET IDENTIFICATION For the present, the logistics managers are working closely with Jetschke to optimise the flow of goods and information in the existing building. Jetschke is the licensed dealer for Linde forklift trucks in the far north. The company with over 270 employees provides and services the fleet
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In beverage logistics, the technical equipment must withstand a lot. Thanks to their robust design, the DataMan readers from Cognex consistently achieve extremely high read rates over time.
However, Jetschke’s experts aimed for an even faster solution that was comfortable for the operators. The idea: An image processing system is mounted on the forklift truck’s mast, which automatically recognises the pallet’s
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EAN code. The driver simply activates the scan at the touch of a button and so is able to fully concentrate on driving and lifting the pallets; eliminating the need to handle the scanner. This saves time and enhances safety with the high volume of forklift trucks and trucks in the goods issue area.
already integrated into the reader, the devices are robust, easy to install, and are easy to adapt to the individual requirements of the application. The large depth of focus of the optics and the very high read rates, even under unfavourable conditions, are also advantageous.”
WANTED: ROBUST IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
The labels with the codes on them are often creased or partially torn due to the harsh environmental conditions. Nonetheless, the barcode readers at Flensburger brewery achieve continuously high read rates thanks to Cognex’s robust decoding algorithms.
While the idea of installing fixed mount barcode readers to the forklift truck masts seems good in concept: It can only be carried out if the barcode reader is robust enough to be able to withstand the constant vibrations and impact loads that act on the mast during the journey. The tough environmental requirements disqualified some common types of devices, such as laser scanners. They contain moving parts that would not survive long under the arduous conditions of beverage logistics. Fortunately, the logistics operations team evaluated Cognex DataMan 360 Series image-based barcode readers. They are ideally suited for robust industrial barcode reading applications — as they have no moving parts and are designed from the ground up to withstand tough environments.
Even creased, torn or reflective codes can be read with the image processing-based devices´ robust decoding algorithms
Flensburger brewery uses additional numeric coding on their pallet markings next to the barcode, so minor adjustments were required and were quickly completed. Ludwig added: “We also equipped the readers with a splash guard as they are used outdoors.”
The splash guard protects the readers from everyday damage
IMAGE-BASED BARCODE READERS PROVE THEMSELVES Christian Ludwig, a business solutions specialist at Jetschke, chose to use the DataMan 360: “Because the software is
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The forklift drivers no longer need to read the codes with handheld scanners, but only need to push a button to trigger the scanning process. This new solution brought huge time and cost savings, both through the modified scanning process, as well as eliminating the additional expenses associated with fixing damaged, unread codes. The masts of six Linde forklift trucks in the logistics centre have been fitted with Cognex’s DataMan readers and the solution is proving a success. MV
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SPONSORED
DRIVING THE DEVELOPMENT OF
LIGHTING SOLUTIONS WHAT NEW INNOVATIONS HAS ADVANCED ILLUMINATIONS BEEN WORKING?
WHAT DO YOU SEE SHAPING THE MARKET IN 2021?
At the beginning of 2020, we released the newest addition to the UltraSeal Washdown family: the AL247 UltraSeal Washdown Bar Light. As with the other UltraSeal lights, the Bar Lights are virtually crevice-free, IP69K Certified by an independent testing agency, and highly corrosionresistant, making them ideal for hygienic inspection environments, aseptic manufacturing, and food and beverage applications. These Bar Lights equip the food and beverage industry to tackle more inspection challenges without compromising food safety.
To state the obvious, COVID-19 significantly affected almost everyone’s business operations in 2020, and manufacturing was no exception. One trend we anticipate from its impact moving into 2021 is an increase in the adoption of automation. Any increase in automation will drive demand for machine vision, but we’re specifically anticipating this in the logistics, warehousing, and electronics industries, to name a few. The demand for machine vision within these fast-paced industries will undoubtedly present new and unique application challenges, driving the development of lighting solutions that will need to be adaptable – either highly customised lights for specific applications, or flexible solutions that can be adjusted from within the deployed environments.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM ADVANCED ILLUMINATION IN 2021? Shortly thereafter, we released our new High Intensity Pattern Projecting Spot Light, engineered with significantly higher output intensity. Our new structured LED light projector features a large cluster of highintensity LEDs in a focused, homogeneous Spot Light, and is nine times brighter than the existing SL191 Pattern Projecting Spot Light. Most recently, we launched our Quad Controllers for computational imaging and photometric stereo. These multi-channel controllers (the DCS-400E Quad Controller features four output channels, while the DCS800E Quad X2 features eight output channels) are ideal for applications that require multi-channel lights or multilight stations, including photometric stereo, extended depth of field, combined bright field + dark field, and more. Along with the capability of being customprogrammed, the DCS-400E and DCS-800E have builtin, pre-programmed sequencing, allowing the controllers to cycle through pre-determined lighting “recipes”. Understanding that photometric stereo is an emerging technique, we wanted to support the industry by devoting a section of our website to education. In this section of our website, we feature application examples, technical user guides, and a detailed application note to assist customers in their photometric stereo efforts.
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In an effort to meet the demand for more adaptable lighting solutions, we’re researching and developing innovative lighting products that would allow users to integrate lights more freely and adjust them on the plant floor – whether that be with unique mounting accessories or the flexibility to adjust the angle of the LEDs within the lights themselves, as an example. After receiving customer feedback, we’re also continuing to grow the UltraSeal Washdown family of lights to support extreme washdown environments. Additions of Spot Lights, Ring Lights, and more can be expected within our upcoming new product releases, to meet the growing need for washdown lighting solutions in food and beverage manufacturing environments. Ultimately, we’re continuing to pay close attention to our customers’ unique needs and developing products from trends we identify within the market. As always, you can expect Advanced illumination to support our customers with high quality machine vision lighting and unique custom solutions, accompanied by our breadth of industry knowledge and exceptional customer support. MV
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SPONSORED
SETTING STANDARDS:
uEye SE CAMERAS WITH FOURTH-GENERATION
SONY PREGIUS SENSOR The compact industrial cameras are therefore also a sensible alternative to cameras with similar highresolution, but large-format sensors, for which F-mount lenses are usually required. With the uEye SE models, C-mount lenses can be used – which means considerable cost savings. Thanks to the USB3 Vision interface, the cameras are also uncompromisingly Vision Standards-compliant and can therefore be used comfortably with IDS peak, for example. The free SDK is characterised by an easy-to-use programming interface developed by IDS. Users no longer need to work directly with GenTL and GenAPI. Convenience classes help to reduce programming effort and thus minimize potential sources of error. MV IDS integrates the high-performance, extremely high-resolution sensor IMX541 from the Pregius S series into the versatile uEye SE camera family. Thanks to its compact 1.1” format, the 20.35 MP CMOS sensor is compatible with C-mount lenses. The industrial cameras feature a practical USB3 Vision interface, deliver 20 fps and will be available from September either as board-level models or with a robust metal housing. Pregius S – the fourth generation of extremely powerful CMOS image sensors from Sony – makes BSI (“Back Side Illuminated”) technology available for the first time in global shutter sensors. The benefits are smaller pixels (only 2.74 μm, which allows a significantly higher pixel density), higher resolution and also improved quantum efficiency and sensitivity. The new camera models deliver outstanding image quality that leaves nothing to be desired even in demanding machine vision applications such as surface inspections, detailed image evaluation in medical technology or use in the traffic sector. Anyone who values high-resolution images – for example to detect even the smallest material defects – will hardly be able to overlook these sensors in the future.
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Link: https://en.ids-imaging.com/news-article/ueye-sesony-imx541.html?utm_source=mvpro_media&utm_ medium=website_artikel&utm_campaign=ueye_se&utm_ content=20200930&utm_term=uk Contact details: IDS Imaging Development Systems Landmark House Station Road Hook Hampshire RG27 9HA www.ids-imaging.com uksales@ids-imaging.com
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BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER: THE NEW LENSES IN THE OPTO ENGINEERING® 360° OPTICS FAMILY Many machine vision applications require a complete view of an object’s surface. This request is becoming more and more common in a variety of markets, like the beverage, pharmaceutical and automotive industries: bottles and containers of different types, as well as many kinds of mechanical parts, require an inspection of the side surfaces to detect scratches and impurities or to read a barcode or, again, to ensure that some writings have been correctly printed. Opto Engineering® has long been famous for its line of 360° OPTICS where one image is enough to view the top and side of an object or the inside of a cavity. The latest trends in Machine Vision, which called for new developments in the 360° OPTICS product range, are higher resolution, higher speed and the request for technological innovation. For many applications, in fact, resolution is crucial. Small defects can only be detected when covered by a number of pixels sufficient to give the right amount of contrast. Speed is also a key factor in many production lines, where it’s not unusual for the inspection to take place at many thousand pieces per hour. Finally, it’s important for integrators and machine builders to market their ability to keep up with the new technologies, hence special products with improved or innovative features need to be showcased. To answer these requests, we released many new P/Ns which add to our historic family of 360° OPTICS. We extended the TCCAGE SERIES, a bi-telecentric system for multiple side imaging and measurement at 90° to cover higher resolutions, up to 1.1” on the 048 model and 4/3” sensors on the 096 model, and new models of TCCAGE with exceptionally
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powerful, strobe-only illuminators, shooting hundreds of watts of illumination. Typical applications such as cable or small mechanical parts inspection will be much faster and accurate. PCBP probes are used to inspect holed objects such as engine parts, containers and tubes by introducing a probe into the cavity. The new PCBP023 lens is compatible with the standard 2/3”, 5 MPx sensors, allowing for higher accuracy. Also, PCBPN013-WG is our new optical solution for inspecting smaller cavities, down to 8 mm, combined with a high-power illumination, peaking at 45 W during strobe mode. Also, if you are using an external illumination source such as a backlight you can choose the new PCBPN013 and reach a stunning 5.5 mm focusing diameter. PCHI optics are used to easily inspect holes, cavities and containers. These special wideangle lenses for small parts are compatible with a wide range of object diameters and thicknesses. The new PCHI023-MF offers an improved focusing gear and is recommended when the operator needs to make frequent adjustments. PCHI023-AF represents a unique combination between our PCHI023 lens and a built-in liquid lens module: employing a separated controller, the machine will be able to communicate with the lens, setting any needed focus with extreme speed and repeatability. Contact your local Opto Engineering Area Manager for more info: we can’t wait to support you in your future machine vision projects! MV
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SPONSORED
LET’S TALK ABOUT
FLEX
WORDS MATTER. DETAILS MATTER. Out of the gate, high flex cables are introduced with a number of flex cycles to justify their label. Common wisdom dictates that the bigger the number is, the safer you are. Big is good. Vast is better. This number should allow you to gauge how suitable a cable or assembly is in your application. It makes comparisons possible and it allows you to ensure that your machine vision application, safely mounted on a dynamic platform, will have reliable performance over the desired lifetime.
LET US SCRATCH AT THE SURFACE A LITTLE… There is a world of detail that challenges the above. Despite endeavours to get testing for the property of flex life standardised, most products are tested according to their manufacturers’ respective standards. These rarely, if ever, fully align. Easily identifiable variables such as bending radius, acceleration and throw (distance) impact the results. Less obvious variables are nuances of the
test set-up, like smoothness and alignment of the rollers, clamping fixtures and / or influence of multiple cables under test. These also influences the results. These are important details. There are also various types of high flex test. The flex life properties can be tested in the form of S-bend (one of our favourites), C-track Supported (in a cable chain), C-track Unsupported as well as the more simple “tic-toc” test. How the results of these tests relate to your application maps to the performance you can expect in your system is also not always self-evident. More annoyingly, results from one test cannot be reliably transposed to an expected result in another.
TORSIONAL FLEX LIFE SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. The final critical inconsistency in the market is the pass criteria of the test, with options being open circuit of the conductors, an increase in their resistance (showing fraying) or errors in the transmitted signal. Open circuit is the easiest to test and certainly valid as a fail condition, from a cable manufacturers point of view. If the aspiration is reliable operation of a vision system, transmission errors will be encountered before the conductors fully break. How much earlier is also not a constant. A good product is one that meets and exceeds all of your requirements. To ensure this outcome, we focus on the outcome you require, and understand and manage many of the details for you to ensure it is successful. Clear communication, with details, allow for a better alignment of possible solutions with your stated requirements. Our portfolio of graded high flex and robotic products ensure customers’ technical and commercial needs are met. At Alysium, our purpose is to exceed your expectations. MV
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SPONSORED
STRIVING FOR
HIGHER RESOLUTIONS Edmund Optics share their latest products and plans for 2021.
WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND OF THE COMPANY? Edmund Optics (EO) has been a supplier of optics and optical components to industry since 1942, designing and manufacturing a wide array of multi-element lenses, lens coatings, imaging systems, and Opto-Mechanical equipment. Led by a staff of skilled optical engineers and scientists, EO holds great competency in imaging and imaging components and specialises in providing complete imaging solutions. EO offers a wide range of products, engineering expertise, design and manufacturing capabilities, and technical support to help customers optimise the performance of their imaging system. EO is application focused and pursues new ways to implement optical technology. Our precision products improve efficiencies and yields and are used in areas such as factory automation, test and measurement, life sciences, autonomous systems, 3D scanning, and many more. If customers cannot find what they need from our large inventory of in-stock standard products that allow for immediate delivery, our engineering teams are ready to support and EO can provide modified and fully customised lenses from prototypes to full scale volume production.
HOW WILL THIS IMPACT THE MARKET? A few years ago, pixels just kept getting smaller but we are starting to reach a limit, if you want more resolution now you need to go bigger. As a result, there is a strong trend in the market towards larger sensor formats as engineers continue to strive for higher resolutions without sacrificing image quality. These new lenses, as well as the rest of our large format range, are specifically designed to meet this demand.
WHAT IS THE LATEST INNOVATIVE PRODUCT?
WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR 2021?
The new 1.1” fixed focal lens with integrated liquid lens is a product family we’re really excited about. We’ve designed these lenses from the ground up and optimised the entire opto-mechanical design around the integrated Optotune lens to provide fast electronic focusing together with the high optical performance required for high resolution 1.1” sensors. We’ve hit new levels of resolution in our standard portfolio recently too with the release of our LH series 120MP lens. This was designed for the new APS-H sensors (35.5mm diagonal) from Canon with 2.2µm pixels but also covers full frame sensors (43.4mm diagonal).
As well as expanding our range of options for larger sensor formats, we’re also planning to continue developing our ruggedised imaging line. Imaging lenses continue to be placed into some really demanding environments as machine vision systems become important in new sectors. In 2021 we’ll be looking to add a new line of environmentally sealed fixed focal length lenses meeting IPX7 and IPX9K ingress protection standards, including a hydrophobic front window. These lenses join our existing line of stability ruggedised lenses designed to withstand high levels of shock and vibration (Cr, HPr, and Ruggedized Blue M12 Series). MV
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SPONSORED
HIGH-SPEED GigE CAMERAS WITH INTEGRATED JPEG IMAGE COMPRESSION SAVE BANDWIDTH, CPU LOAD, AND STORAGE CAPACITY
Compared to the transfer and storage of full images, applications can benefit from reduced storage capacity requirements plus the associated hardware savings. The five new models with resolutions from 0.5 MP to 9 MP feature the latest Sony Pregius CMOS sensors of the 2nd and 3rd generation coupled with very high sensitivity with a pixel size of up to 9 Âľm. Short exposure times of up to 1 Âľs are especially advantageous for capturing very fast movements. The exceptionally high image quality with low noise facilitates reliable image evaluation, even under adverse circumstances, e.g., motion analysis for indoor sports with reduced illumination intensity.
The new LXT cameras with integrated JPEG image compression allow image capture with very high resolution and speed via the widely available and easyto-use GigE interface. This means, for example, that 500 frames/s with full HD or more than 1500 frames/s with SVGA can be used without any time limitations. As a result, the bandwidth, CPU load, and required storage capacity are reduced. This simplifies the system design and lowers integration costs. The cameras are optimally suited for capturing long image sequences in which original images can be compressed, transmitted, and stored, e.g., inspection of pantographs in railway, control of continuous material in paper production, analysis of motion sequences in the sports industry, or process monitoring. Thanks to the configurable JPEG compression rate, the image quality can be individually adjusted to the application. Data reduction in the range of 1:10 to 1:20 is possible. The image compression takes place directly in the FPGA of the camera, which relieves the PC-based image processing system of computing-intensive image compression algorithms. This allows several cameras to be used simultaneously from one PC via a switch.
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The 10 GigE models of the LX series are the ideal choice for demanding inspection tasks that place strict demands on high-definition image quality at high throughput. Their robust industrial design withstands mechanical loads and ensures reliable image processing. The cameras are equipped with four opto-decoupled power outputs with pulse width modulation and an output performance of up to 120 W (max. 48 V / 2.5 A) for the direct control of illumination without an external controller. Thanks to the optional patented tube system, the cameras offer the protection class IP 65 and IP 67, entirely without an external housing. Equipped with Precision Time Protocol (PTP) according to the IEEE 1588 standard, the LXT models additionally support precise time synchronization in Ethernet networks. The flexible activation of objectives with liquid lenses allows simple adjustment to varying working distances. The integrated HDR function facilitates stable image capture even in difficult illumination situations, such as outdoors. MV Contact Details: W: www.baumer.com/cameras/LXT E: sales@baumer.com T: +41 527281122
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20/20 VISION IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY
When facing market uncertainty, the instinct is to batten down the hatches and wait for the dust to settle. But, if post and parcel companies had adopted that attitude in recent years, many would have not survived. The advent of e-commerce has required the industry to be much more agile and flexible automation has proved crucial. So, in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, postal companies already have the key to managing turbulence and the message is clear, continued investment in automation has never been more important. Post and parcel companies with an open mind to automation – and who chose systems that are open to development - are reaping rewards, especially now. This concept has been central to Prime Vision’s ethos. Everyone should have the benefit of automation platforms that give them complete control over how their operation adapts and expands. This greenfield methodology has also been instrumental in Prime Vision’s own evolution. Although OCR, videocoding and sorting decision systems remain core competences, it is the wider scope that its supplieragnostic products provide, that has allowed it to become the computer vision expert it is today.
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Prime Vision has also taken a consistent, anti-cyclical approach to product development, even accelerating innovation against economic indicators. Indeed, this has resulted in the implementation of some of the most imaginative systems that are helping post and parcel companies to ride the tide of COVID; PostNL provides a shining example. Prime Vision is now building on a successful pilot project for PostNL in Belgium that makes use of mobile robots to absorb peaks in parcel volume and shortfalls in human resources. Work is underway to complement this set-up with Prime Vision’s Handling Projector to simplify and optimise the manual sorting process; and it’s a solution with a ‘green’ twist. Rather than sorting to vans, the system will serve a fleet of electric bicycles, part of an ambitious project to achieve zero-emission delivery of parcels in city centres. As Prime Vision’s commercial director, Dirk van Lammeren, concludes: “COVID is not so much a crisis of revenue but one of uncertainty. But technology is already in place and continues to evolve to help the entire postal chain manage the ups and downs - and thrive in the process.” MV
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NOT ALL TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT SOLUTIONS ARE
CREATED EQUAL
Markus Tarin, president & CEO of US-based MoviTH E R M – Advanced Thermography Solutions, delivers a sage lesson of ‘buyer beware’ after a flood of thermal imaging products came to market in the battle to detect Covid-19.
By now everybody is suffering from Covid-19 fatigue. There are new rules being put in place almost every week to prevent the spread of the disease. Some more confusing than others, and some seemingly contradicting common sense. As more and more companies are resuming operations, risk mitigation plans are being developed by HR and Legal Departments in the corporate world. The biggest fear? A Covid-19 outbreak amongst the work force, the resulting loss of productivity and of course, the possibility of legal actions. A typical reopening plan consists of workplace modification to allow for better social distancing, rigorous disinfection and cleaning routines, mask wearing, daily health surveys and temperature checks. Alone, none of these measures are particularly effective, but as a whole, they will no doubt have an impact. The need to contain and fight outbreaks has ruined countless businesses, but it also has created a lot of opportunity for others. This is especially true for the thermal imaging world. An unprecedented level of new innovations for “fever screening solutions” have entered the marketplace.
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For some companies, this was the solution that kept them afloat as their standard product line came to a standstill. The need for temperature measurements skyrocketed, depleting the market of standard thermometers in a very short period. However, not all temperature measurement solutions are created equal. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (‘FDA’), that typically governs medical applications like these, relaxed its grip on the market temporarily. This was to alleviate the bottleneck the high demand had created for human temperature measurement solutions. Unfortunately, this also brought out the dark side of technology, driven by greed. Praying on the needy, and counting on the technically uneducated customer, solutions flooded the market that did not even meet the minimum criteria for this application. Looking at the offered technologies with the eyes of machine vision, it became apparent not all solutions were up to the job. However, the non-technical decision maker is left with fewer metrics to compare. The old saying: “You get what you pay for” loses its punch when technology is being purchased as a
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necessity, rather than a voluntary investment for improving the bottom line. Why would anyone purchase a more expensive solution, if a more affordable one claims to be equally as accurate? Some of the more blatant cases of this technology fraud included systems that seemingly report randomised temperatures, with a strong bias towards “normal” temperatures. One case was uncovered when a camera with artificial intelligence was presented with a picture of a person glued to a piece of cardboard. The system happily announced a normal temperature. Checking the temperature of the picture revealed that the software added about 12 degrees Celsius to the actual reading, thus revealing the fraudulent algorithm. But even more legitimate solutions do not necessarily pass the muster test. Especially the lower cost tablet type form factors, which use a very low (spatial) resolution thermopile or infrared sensor. There are different types on the market, some with i.e. 16 x 16 pixels and some with a single thermopile sensor. Despite their ability to measure temperatures accurately, often on the order of +/- 0.5C, these sensors won’t be able to measure a complex scene without significant errors. If you point these low spatial resolution sensors at a uniformly heated surface, such as a blackbody calibration reference, they meet their specified accuracy. However, some sensors, when pointed at a human face end up with an average temperature reading. With a field of view of about 80 degrees at half of the normalised sensitivity, all the sensor can do, is to average any infrared radiation. If that sensor is pointed towards the face to include the nose, the resulting temperature will be significantly skewed towards the lower end because the nose is typically very cold when compared to other areas of the face. So, the system accuracy is more dependent on the spatial resolution of the infrared sensor. These low-cost solutions are typically being implemented by customers that either do not have the budget, are technologically unaware, or just want to tick the box. In either case, a complete disservice is being done to protect the workforce or their customers by providing a false sense of safety. As more and more of these systems are being put to the test and the truth is being revealed, it
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comes as no surprise that this technology overall is getting a bad reputation. If properly designed, this technology can be an effective screening tool. This requires using thermal cameras with at least 320 x 240 pixels and using a reference black body, screening one person at a time under controlled conditions. And of course, there are asymptomatic cases with no fever and people argue that taking a fever reducer such as Ibuprofen will allow you to slip by, but so does lying about your symptoms. People that want to cheat the system, will cheat the system. An effective risk mitigation strategy requires many things to work together to have a significant impact. It is a sliding scale and not a “Will it work? Or will it not work?” kind of a question. Other tools are being added to the arsenal of risk mitigation strategies as well, which provide further opportunities for innovative companies. Contact tracing being one of them. What if an infected person slips through the cracks? It now becomes important to back trace who that person came into contact with. One way to solve this is to use surveillance cameras and AI. Tracking the whereabouts of that person throughout the workday and cataloguing who was near that person and for how long.
Other AI vision-based solutions include monitoring of frequently touched areas. The AI creates a colour or heat map based on frequency of touched regions. This map can assist in telling cleaning crews where to pay special attention when disinfecting certain work surfaces to mitigate highly contaminated areas. Even when COVID19 vaccines become widely available, the next pandemic might be just around the corner. The lessons learned and innovative solutions created will still be useful for future infectious disease outbreaks. Well, at least the legitimate ones. MV
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SPONSORED
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
MidOpt’s technical training manager, Georgy Das highlights the successes of 2020 and future investment plans. WHAT’S NEW FROM MIDOPT IN 2020? We have released several new products all of which are focused on machine vision. This includes the Backlight fluoreSHEET™, which is a simple and affordable backlight alternative designed for spaced-constrained applications. We also launched several new protective windows including the LP8000 Germanium which features a diamond-like coating for harsh environments. We’re also excited about our new BP and BN450 bandpass filters, which are designed for use with blue LEDs, laser applications and can be used with 3D Metrology.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE NEW TRENDS IN MACHINE VISION AND HOW IS MIDOPT PLAYING A ROLE? We’re continuing to see growing popularity with short wave infrared. These applications utilise SWIR cameras, lenses and lighting for a variety of use cases including LIDAR for autonomous vehicles, surveillance, inspection and so much more. MidOpt has been on the leading-edge providing the highest quality filter options with our SWIR line of bandpass, multi-bandpass, longpass and protective filters. We’re also seeing more interest in our robust line of Protection windows that come in both glass and acrylic options. As embedded systems grow in popularity these compact, integrated vision systems can be used in a variety of harsh environments and come with a growing need for a way to protect the components of a system with durable but high-quality optical windows.
EVENTS TEND TO BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE MACHINE VISION INDUSTRY. GIVEN ALL THE MAJOR EVENTS WERE CANCELLED THIS YEAR, HOW ARE YOU MAINTAINING VISIBILITY WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS AND PROSPECTS?
through and they really understand content marketing, keeping our products and updates out there for targets to see. We’re also trying to push videos and webinars to continue to provide the training and resources our customers have come to expect from us. We do miss the events, though, and look forward to getting back in the swing of things next year.
IT’S BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR MANY BUSINESSES. HOW HAS COVID-19 AFFECTED MIDOPT’S BUSINESS? So far, fortunately, the impact has been minimal. We credit our breadth of product and global reputation of being a premium and highly efficient manufacturer, along with the fact that we are known to keep our product in-stock. Our capabilities, robust catalogue and customer focused service has been the driving force in minimising the effects of the global pandemic.
WHAT CAN THE INDUSTRY EXPECT TO SEE FROM MIDOPT IN THE COMING YEAR? In addition to some new product releases like our upcoming BP355 which will be a bandpass filter focused on UV wavelengths, we’re taking the opportunity to really invest in our infrastructure and internal systems. This will help us simplify our workflows and allows the tools to provide even better service to our amazing customers and partners. We’re also working very hard on creating videos, documentation and other training exercises to help educate our customers on machine vision filters, optics and accessories. MV
We have a great in-house marketing team and they have a great grasp on the channels we promote
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CXP 2.0 POWERED NEURON AIDS
ROBOTIC SURGERY consultant, the surgical robot offers greater precision and control with enhanced visualisation, all of which exceed the human range. In the development of equipment used in laparoscopic surgery, several factors need to be addressed, one of which is that of image integrity. It is of vital importance that the quality of the real time visualisation of a live procedure is consistently high and reliable with no chance of image degradation for the entire duration of the operation. Any failure or lack of clarity would serve only to hamper the surgical teams’ efforts. In this type of application, the Neuron repeater takes the signal output from the camera, cleans it up and amplifies it, all in real time, then retransmits the data stream to the receiving host. The reconstituted signal ensures a perfect rendition of the original image with no perceivable data latency.
Back in early March, Cambridge Electronic Industries introduced the world’s first qualified CoaXPress V2.0 CXP Repeater to the machine vision market. CoaXPress V2.0 makes provision for data rates of up to 12Gb/s (CXP-12). Earlier this month, Cambridge Electronic Industries introduced a new device to its Xtensa repeater range. The Neuron joined its big brother, the Challenger to offer a compact option to a new emerging machine vision market. Over the past few years, there has been much development in the use of machine vision in the medical and life sciences sector, where the wider use of digital image acquisition has shown improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Cambridge Electronic Industries are working alongside several companies who are using the CXP protocol within their robotic surgery equipment. Robotic surgery offers the patient the option of laparoscopic surgery, which drastically speeds up recovery time and reduces the risk of infection. For the
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Powered by Power over CoaXPress (PoCXP), the device requires no external power supply or software to run. The ultra-compact profile of the Neuron repeater, at only 48x20x14mm, minimises its physical impact on the system infrastructure, opening more possibilities for use in other space constrained applications for this powerful device. The device fully meets the requirements CoaXPress V2.0 and has also been qualified to European and American EMC emission and immunity standards. There has been a surge in the use of vision systems within the medical sector, combining the use of machine vision with artificial intelligence to assist with medical data analysis and diagnostics. With further development, improvement in the image acquisition of surgical robotics will pave the way for greater use of minimally invasive surgery techniques in more complex surgical operations. Cambridge Electronic Industries is continuing to develop its range of Xtensa repeaters to offer new diverse capabilities to different aspects of the machine vision market. MV
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BOSCH UTILISES
AUTONOMOUS MACHINE VISION FOR ‘BLACK-ON-BLACK’ SOLUTION
Kantor, VP of Sales & Project Management at Inspekto. “The highly reflective surface of plastic is hard to illuminate correctly. In addition, if the background material, the mould and the plastic polymer are a similar colour, and the available illumination is anything but ideal, a lack of contrast can make it very difficult for the machine vision system to work. “Combine this with the fact that traditional systems can only inspect one type of product at a time — and manufacturers need to create product lines in different colours and sizes — it’s easy to see why a fundamental change in machine vision is needed.” In its plant in Waiblingen, Germany, Bosch produces plastic moulded connectors for the automotive sector. Plastic injection moulding is traditionally a difficult application for standard machine vision because of the lack of contrast between the background and the part being inspected – the “black-on-black” nemesis. To solve this problem, Bosch turned to Inspekto, founder of the Autonomous Machine Vision (AMV) category.
This was the problem Bosch was facing. In Waiblingen, the company produces plastic moulded connectors for vehicles, specialising in motor plugs, device connectors and sensor connectors. The plant has various production lines and injection moulding machines. “The plant uses conventional state-of-the-art machine vision solutions, some developed internally, some created
The automotive industry’s quality standards place high demands on production. Global competition and market expectations put growing pressures on automotive vendors to enhance their QA procedures, moving away from manual to automated inspection. The challenge is to find and implement cutting-edge machine vision methods.
THE PROBLEM WITH INJECTION MOULDING “Plastic injection moulding poses a lot of problems for traditional machine vision systems,” explains Zohar
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an application partnership and after a few weeks, the first system was ready for use in series production. “In our area of the business, we are experts in machine vision, so it wasn’t difficult to integrate the system. So, I’m confident that our colleagues in other Bosch plants also would have no difficulty in using Inspekto’s AMV system,” reports one of the development engineers at Bosch.
and integrated by external machine vision experts,” explains one of the development engineers for optical inspection systems at Bosch in Waiblingen.
“The initial installation of the pilot system took about an hour, and less than a day if you factor in the small adjustments that we made to optimise the speed of the process. It took another 20 minutes to learn the software programme, and then we just had to plug in the camera and begin inspecting.”
“However, these solutions are not suitable for some of our applications, where the item that we need to inspect consists of a black polymer on a black background. In these conditions, it is virtually impossible to set the parameters for the QA solution to recognise defects.” The plant had to check the connectors manually. As this is a tedious, repetitive job, inspectors might easily become tired and unfocused and fail to recognise defects. Moreover, the cost for personnel is significant. After learning about AMV in an industrial report, Bosch approached Inspekto to see if the company could provide a solution to Bosch’s machine vision challenges.
COST REDUCTION AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
PLUG & INSPECT ® TECHNOLOGY
During installation, the production line kept running as normal and the plant didn’t experience any downtime.
AMV is a new category of machine vision for quality assurance invented by Inspekto, a German company with Israeli DNA. In 2018, the company launched its first AMV system, the INSPEKTO S70, establishing a new approach to quality assurance (QA).
“Because the INSPEKTO S70 can run without any input from the control system, it can be installed without affecting production,” says one of the development engineers.
“The INSPEKTO S70 is a standalone product for visual QA, gating and sorting,” says Kantor. “It is self-setting, selflearning and self-adjusting and can be used to inspect any item, in any industry, produced with any handling method.
“Initially, we had the S70 running in parallel with the production line, where we integrated it mechanically but without connecting it to the machine. The system then learned the characteristics of the product quickly. All of this was done without any impact on production.
“The installation process is designed to be quick and easy. The plant’s own staff can set up and train the system without using an external systems integrator. Most importantly, the S70 only requires an average of 20 to 30 good samples to learn the characteristics of a perfect product.”
“The cost of the initial system was amortised in under a month and we could immediately see further savings and an improvement in quality. Because the pilot system worked so well, we ordered another one for our subsidiaries overseas, then another one to be installed in an older application here in Waiblingen.” MV
Because of these advantages, Bosch decided to run a pilot project in Waiblingen and see if it would help where traditional solutions had failed. Inspekto and Bosch started
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CLEVER KLAUS DELIVERS
INTELLIGENT IMAGE PROCESSING
Automation plays a major role in Industry 4.0. Cost reduction, increased productivity and zero-defect quality are factors that are increasingly prompting companies to digitise their processes. But often full automation also means high investments. At the same time, the focus will continue to be on the human being in the interaction between man and machine. Given the prevailing shortage of skilled workers and high standards of industrial safety, this is no easy task for companies. Additional challenges for a successful process optimisation are a large number of variants, complex tasks and processes, as well as increasing quality requirements. How can this succeed? With the assistance system ‘Clever Klaus’, German company Optimum datamanagement solutions has developed a smart solution: The easy-to-integrate, camera-based assistant uses digitisation to optimise and simplify manual inspection processes. By combining industrial image recognition using a high-resolution USB3 industrial camera from IDS and an intelligent database, the assistance system recognises every step and assists the employee in real time during the entire assembly process.
‘Clever Klaus’ assembly assistance system with USB 3 uEye CP industrial camera from IDS.
According to the simple principle: Instructing - checking confirming - documenting even these complex processes become manageable. The intelligent assembly assistance system “Clever Klaus” guides employees step by step with digital assembly instructions. The worker scans the order document and the assembly process begins. An IDS camera installed above the worktable records the workpiece or individual parts to be mounted. Both operating instructions and error messages appear on a touch monitor in real time: After each successful work step the worker receives a confirmation. Once assembly is complete, the system provides evidence of fault-free production.
The intelligent assembly assistance system “Clever Klaus” guides employees step by step with digital assembly instructions.
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“The camera generates the digital shadow,” explains Wolfgang Mahanty, managing director of OPTIMUM datamanagement solutions.
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All digital data of the process - when and how what is done - is recorded and processed. This enables the creation of a knowledge base and the subsequent transfer of knowledge to all. “The camera has to capture many details and a wide range of variations and provide stable images. Sensory recognition must be reliable, i.e. the sensor must be able to cope with poor or changing lighting conditions,” says Mahanty, summarising the demands on the camera. The reason: “In today’s factory, the employee should get as much daylight as possible, which can affect the quality of the recording.” No problem for the USB3 industrial camera UI-3590CP from IDS. The light-sensitive AR1820HSSC00SHEA0 rolling shutter CMOS sensor from ON Semiconductor uses BSI (“back-side-illumination”) technology to ensure outstanding image quality even in low light conditions. Even when capturing the smallest details, extremely high-resolution images with low image noise are produced. With a resolution of 18 MP (4912 x 3684) it reaches a frame rate of 21 fps. “Products are detected with deviations of 1mm on DINA 3”, confirms Mahanty. Moreover, the small, compact size as well as the easy integration of the camera convinced the team of ‘Clever Klaus’.
Easy integration into the respective production equipment, simplified variant management.
Ludwigsburg-based company Mann + Hummel, world market leader and expert in the field of filtration, also appreciates the advantages of the assistance system optimised with the IDS camera model. Peter Sawatzky, technical manager at Mann + Hummel, also relies on the use of the ‘Clever Klaus’. “During the final assembly of our filter components, many manual activities are required. This demands changing devices with very complex and therefore failure-prone
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sensory queries. The assistance system has convinced us because we make far fewer mistakes.” New variants can be easily learned during work preparation and can be installed by the worker on the same day. “Our variant management has thus become much easier,” underlines Sawatzky. Additional benefit: The system can be integrated very easily into the respective production facility and even the use of several camera models is possible very simply and cost-effectively if the customer application requires it. Employees learn new procedures quickly and safely with Klaus’ help through the digital step-by-step instructions. The relief of the worker through the individual assembly assistance system as well as easier work organisation allow a significant increase in productivity. Assembly costs are reduced, at the same time complaint costs are minimised by the increased quality assurance. “Since ‘Clever Klaus’ has been supporting our workers during assembly, the number of complaints has fallen significantly,” confirms Sawatzky.
OUTLOOK Particularly in the electronics and automotive sectors, assistance systems such as the one from OPTIMUM datamanagement solutions are increasingly accelerating processes and ensuring increased efficiency and quality. Manufacturing processes run almost flawlessly, are fully documented and can be traced. In this way, they help companies to increase productivity and, if necessary, to gain a competitive advantage. Simple, intuitive operation is an important basis for the successful introduction of Industry 4.0 and the associated. Optimum is therefore constantly working on how the system can be easily taught. This is done using CAD data, intelligent filters or even artificial intelligence. A further step on the way to digitisation is also the possibility of virtual commissioning. The assistance system must be designed so intuitively that every employee from the maintenance or work preparation department can operate it himself. Digitisation is advancing all the time, and the need for solutions to increase efficiency and quality in the factory of the future is growing. With individual, easily integrated assistance systems and intelligent image processing, it can be covered quickly and easily. An investment that pays for itself in a short time. MV
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CHINA LEAD
AI INNOVATION RACE Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a huge part of our everyday lives, with the likes of home pods and facial recognition aiding our day-to-day. Most smartphones now have face I D, and we can also log into our online banking using our face as a password. As a result, the industry is booming, and it’s predicted that the AI market will be worth over a staggering $118 billion by 2022.
RS Components has analysed nearly 8,000 AI patent applications to reveal which countries and companies are leading the way in the AI race. The top 10 patent offices that received the most AI patents are as follows: Rank Country
Number of patent applications received
1 China
4636
2
United States of America 1416
3
Republic of Korea
532
4 India
243
5
116
European Patent Office
6 Australia
79
7 Japan
71
8 Singapore
18
9
Russian Federation
13
10
United Kingdom
8
From the data, China is leading the way by some margin when it comes to the number of patent applications received, with a huge 4,636 applications to this patent office over the last two years. But it’s not just patent applications for AI where China is currently leading, with the nation recently overtaking the USA, to become the world’s most prolific patent filer.
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With further reports also highlighting that more than half of all patent applications now come from Asia, it’s no surprise to see the Republic of Korea, India, Japan and Singapore also within the top 10 countries for AI patent applications. Although China is the patent office that has received the most applications, the South Korean based LG Electronics leads the way in terms of companies, with 731 patent applications made in the same time period, making up almost 10 per cent of all applications with the applicant name listed. The Chinese-based Ping An Technology follows in second, but with only 308 applications made. With a mission to build an “AI strategy designed to make life easier for customers”, LG launched its LG ThinQ line of consumer electronics equipped with AI technology in 2017. The range, which includes kitchen appliances, air solutions and their recently announced WashTower, aims to reduce the effort needed to complete routine daily tasks while simultaneously securing LG’s place in the consumer AI market. However, when it comes to patents, applications are only the first step. According to the USPTO, approximately 52 per cent of patent applications are granted, so the companies with the most applications aren’t necessarily the companies with the highest number of grants. Although the US patent office comes second for applications, US companies dominate the list of companies that have been granted the most patents. Intel is the clear leader in AI innovation, with 45,591 patents granted, followed by DataScience.com with 16,749 patent grants.
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At 51 years old, Intel has provided processors and other technologies that have transformed the personal computer market, but as demand for higher processing power has continually increased, they are now working to keep up with the demand for AI that will go on to create yet another technological revolution. With a $2 billion acquisition of AI chipmaker Habana in late 2019, and the announcement that they generated $3.8 billion in AI revenue in 2019, Intel is clearly looking to make large moves in the AI market. AI is clearly transforming the way in which we go about our everyday lives, with “Alexa, what’s the weather like today?� becoming a common phrase in households around the world. However, there is clearly plenty of space for companies to strengthen their position in the space, with the industry showing no signs of slowing down yet. Take a look at the full AI Innovators report by RS Components, where they have used Crunchbase data from January 2018-2020 to reveal which countries and companies are leading the way in applications for artificial intelligence patents, and which companies have had the most patents granted. MV
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CURRENT HOT POSITIONS INCLUDE: Midlands – PLC Commissioning Engineer up to £40,000 An established engineering consultancy that specialises within the heavy industry is seeking a Siemens S7 engineer to join their Engineering department in the Midlands. The role will consist of reverse engineering Siemens systems (S7 & WinCC), logic changes, testing and commissioning alongside planned and predictive maintenance.
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What Type of Strobe Controller is Best for Machine Vision? Shifting illumination conditions can create massive problems for machine vision software. Achieving consistent illumination is a core requirements.
But, what type of controller is best?
A strobe controller will guarantee perfect illumination of the object and help improve speed and reliability of the process. It may also save costs.
The illumination LEDs produce is proportional to the current flowing. So, the most logical method to LEDs is via a Constant Current Controller. Current control has many benefits but sometimes needs careful power management. An alternative is a Pulse Width Modulation controller which is based on Voltage Drive and may be susceptible to variations in power supply. PWM can also be less reliable at speed.
The choice of strobe controller is an important one. You can learn more about the different types of controller at www.gardasoft.com/voltage-drive-current-drive/
Semiconductor
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Telephone: +44 (0) 1954 234970 | +1 603 657 9026 Email: vision@gardasoft.com
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Pharmaceuticals
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Food Inspection
FILTERS: A NECESSITY, NOT AN ACCESSORY.
INNOVATIVE FILTER DESIGNS FOR INDUSTRIAL IMAGING
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