MARKET OVERVIEW
MACHINE VISION IN INDUSTRY Author: Steed WEBZELL
Machine vision technologies are evolving rapidly to keep pace with the requirements of industry, at times even surpassing them.
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achine vision basically refers to image-based systems used in industrial and manufacturing tasks that include identification, inspection, sorting and gauging. These systems are also used for guidance in robotic applications. Vision-based technology has been in use for over four decades, though some devices were deployed even earlier. Keyence – today a leading global supplier of sensors, measuring systems, laser markers, microscopes and machine vision systems – started the development of general-purpose image processing systems in the early 1980s. Similarly, Automatix (now part of OMRON) demonstrated its Autovision II, a basic machine vision system, in 1983.
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Broadly, three types of machine vision system have evolved over the years: 1D or line scan systems used mostly in continuous processes like sheet and rolled product manufacturing (paper, metal, etc); 2D machine vision with a digital camera to capture the image of an object, commonly deployed in barcode scanning and label orientation systems; and 3D machine vision systems with multiple cameras and laser displacement sensors, used typically in surface inspection and volume measurement. So what began as a very basic identification system has now been refined for use in very sophisticated devices that make use of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.
26 | Industrie 48 Industry EMEA | Septembre | September 2020 2020
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The new OMRON FHV7 smart camera features industry-first technology.
