3D system suits difficult handling applications

3D vision enables picking based on the product's profile, allowing inspection and picking of transparent or semitransparent products such a vials or syringes

RTS Flexible Systems has released a 3D vision-based robot automation solution for product handling and end-of-line picking and packing The new system uses PickCell software and will enable automated high-speed pick and place robotics solutions for applications such as gripping complex shapes and profiles, picking variable heights, enhanced inspection and defect rejection, measuring volume and mass and picking products individually from a random arrangement from a variety of in-feeds.

The ability of 2D vision-guided robotic automation to generate the position and orientation of products is well established and generally works on greyscale, colour or line-scanning vision systems as a means, for example, of enabling quality inspection and defect inspection.

Because the 3D system can process the X, Y and Z co-ordinates of the product it can also, for the first time, accurately gauge the height, depth and surface contours of a product to be processed.

The technology has enabled the RTS team to successfully demonstrate picking of products with unpredictable or variable heights to high tolerances without damaging them.

3D vision enables picking based on the product's profile, allowing inspection and picking of transparent or semitransparent products such a vials or syringes from a random feed or pile.

The fine surface contours of a complex product shape, which can be confusing or invisible to a 2D system,have been profiled in 3D so that the robot can identify the position and orientation, so that a label can be then be applied on an indented surface area.

Quality inspection is enhanced because a 3D system can detect the depth of a surface defect.

A 3D system could be set up to reject baked products with air pockets or sinkage outside a certain tolerance, whereas a 2D system would normally only be able to select based on the position and size of a defect.

A technology development team at RTS has collaborated with Sick UK to use 3D vision technology using a laser-based triangulation technique to capture the profile and shape of the product as it enters the robotic cell.

A single camera is set at an angle on the axis of an object moving along a conveyor.

This camera is integrated with a laser vertically above the object.

As the object moves through the laser line, the camera builds up a series of profile 'slices' to create a digitised 3D image which follows the surface contours.

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