Integration
@imveurope
www.imveurope.com
– of images of a single scene, each with a different narrow bandwidth of spectral information. In the hands of an integrator knowledgeable in this technology, applications for discrete spectral analysis of materials or even chemical composition can be done online. Many industries such as food, pharmaceutical, and recycling can benefit from this type of inspection capability. Tirdly, many industrial applications demand
high-speed imaging and processing. Line scanning is a common technique to achieve higher imaging rates with high resolution, but integration of these components can be more complex than common area imaging applications. Likewise, high-speed imaging and processing is a task requiring skilled integration. Finally, deep learning is becoming much
Changing technologies enable new applications and drive the need for competent systems integration
tackling highly complex, automated applications that previously have not been achieved. Some of the skills that no longer are just desirable, but now are a true prerequisite for a competent machine vision integrator include: • the ability to program a variety of PC-based, embedded-computer-based, or board-level soſtware libraries that perform the most complicated machine vision image acquisition, processing, and analysis algorithms and tasks;
• an understanding of diverse imaging technologies, cameras and sensors;
• an expanded repertoire of competencies in the selection, design, and implementation of complex and specialised optical and lighting components; and
• broad expertise in the specification and use of advanced machine vision imaging systems.
and interfacing to external devices. Additional demands for communication – such as those related to the industrial internet of things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 – dictate further integration skills related to the machine vision solution.
The machine vision
marketplace … continues to be a combination of hype and reality in the context of technology and capability
In addition, machine vision integrators have adapted business models to become providers of complete automation systems, offering design and integration of solutions involving machine vision technology, as opposed to only installing machine vision components. Key to the success of demanding applications includes the ability to control part presentation, provide flexible handling options, manipulate cameras and lighting orientation, and coordinate automation controls
New technology Rapid advances in machine vision technology have enabled a wealth of new applications, and also helped drive both the need for, and the technical capabilities of, today’s machine vision integrator. Firstly, consider 3D
imaging: machine vision components that capture 3D information for a field of view are more readily available. Tese devices vary widely in imaging methodology and implementation techniques. An integrator can apply these devices for a variety of
applications, including high-accuracy surface analysis, 3D part and feature measurement, and inspection using 3D image data, instead of 2D greyscale information. New applications on the horizon include robot guidance, where random products and even mixed, randomly piled products, can be singled out and grasped by a gripper. Secondly, hyperspectral and multispectral
imaging is relatively new technology. Tese cameras collect multiple – sometimes hundreds
36 Imaging and Machine Vision Europe • Yearbook 2018/2019
more sought aſter. While not completely new to machine vision, machine learning and its more recent implementation deep learning are the latest buzzwords in the industry. Tis technology shows great promise in a number of application areas, but it will take a skilled integrator to determine the viability and implementation parameters of deep learning for a particular task.
Hype and reality It can be said that machine vision integration has evolved, much like the entire machine vision industry has. Tere is a strong future for machine vision integration in providing cutting- edge solutions in an expanding application base. What the savvy end-user needs to embrace
is that the machine vision marketplace has been, and continues to be, a combination of hype and reality in the context of technology and capability. Manufacturers, financiers, media, and the general engineering community sometimes tend to focus on the latest buzz in technology as being the ultimate quick solution to all application needs. An integrator is the gatekeeper in this context, the entity who must absolutely make it work regardless of the buzz. Integrators oſten have been and, in the future, will continue to be the resource – particularly in the context of complex applications – able to make sense of the hype and reality, and deliver to the end-user a truly successful and reliable machine vision solution. O
David Dechow is principal vision systems architect for Integro Technologies, working on application evaluation and design of turnkey machine vision solutions. Prior to his position at Integro, he was staff engineer for intelligent robotics and machine vision at Fanuc, and earlier was the founder of two machine vision system integration firms. He is a recipient of the AIA Automated Imaging Achievement Award.
Integro Technologies
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