Vision systems struggle to keep pace

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 22, 2006

Report discovers manufacturers of vision system technologies finding it difficult to keep pace with developments in the semiconductor industry.

Manufacturers of vision system technologies are finding it extremely difficult to keep pace with developments in the semiconductor industry, according to a report from market watcher Frost and Sullivan.

Miniaturisation of components is creating the need for higher throughput vision systems that offer better accuracy.

"Commensurate advancements in lighting and illumination, lasers, lighting, processors, sensors and optics have to complement machine vision systems," said Frost and Sullivan Research Analyst Vishnu Sivadevan.

"Developers face the challenge of reducing set up time and incorporating greater enhanced functionality, scalability and upgradeability".

It is important to pay special attention to issues surrounding the expenditure and time for set up and installation.

User-friendly features, robust integration capabilities and reduction of operator training time will drive investments in machine vision systems.

"End users are demanding quick return of investment and are attempting to make a futuristic investment in vision systems, choosing judiciously from a range of products that differ in cost and functionality," said Sivadevan.

Advanced automation standards also require machine vision systems that are flexible and scalable across multiple products and production lines.

This has given rise to compact vision systems and smart cameras that have built-in image sensors and processors and are more user friendly.

While smart cameras are replacing PC-based vision systems, the choice of architecture would depend upon the application to which the vision system is catering.

The increasing need to optimise production processes is one of the key drivers of development of innovative machine vision technologies.

Basler Vision Technologies, Germany, a manufacturer of vision-based optical media inspection equipment, has developed a laser-based measurement approach.

The third generation optical media - the blue ray disc - requires highly accurate cover layer uniformity and has posed a significant problem for machine vision system manufacturers in reducing cover layer thickness and the microscopic surface deformations.

Basler's scanners improve the optical effect of deformation and can spot defects that are present either on the information or covering layer of the disc.

Once vision systems achieve more versatility and upgradeability, the range of applications is likely to expand beyond industries and production processes.

High-end machine vision applications are progressing from 2D to 3D imaging with techniques such as laser triangulation and stereovision.

The 3D chip-based vision systems are emerging as cost-effective alternatives to weight sensors and stereovision techniques in automotive applications.

"Upgrading to 3D inspection systems from 2D inspection systems would constitute a phenomenal leap in performance for certain applications," said Sivadevan.

Sick IVP of Sweden has introduced a 3D vision smart camera that uses laser triangulation for high-performance capture of 3D images.

Due to 3D inspection capabilities, the camera has versatile qualities that let it perform inspection, location and measurements of objects to enhance production processes.

This 3D smart vision system, which also incorporates tools that can estimate height and volume, is set to make a significant impact on robotic guidance applications such as bin picking, inspection of connector pins and inspection of weld seams all of which require precise inspection of 3D images.

Researchers are also working towards the development of real-time autonomous robotic guidance using machine vision systems.

The five year Reverb (reverse engineering the vertebrate brain) project jointly undertaken by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, BAe Systems and a group of UK universities aims at incorporating artificial intelligence in robotics.

As part of this project, the department of electrical and electronic engineering at Manchester University has developed a vision chip that is capable of foveal and peripheral vision similar to the retina of the human eye and is likely to be useful for factory automation applications.

This smart sensor vision chip performs the functions of a vision sensor; a microprocessor can process the complex images at rapid rates.

It will find use in laser-guided crawlers for tasks such as machining and inspection of aircraft parts.