NEWS FROM VDMA, EMVA AND UKIVA Association news OPC Vision: next steps


By Dr Reinhard Heister VDMA Robotics and Automation


An OPC UA companion specification for machine vision (OPC Vision) was published at Automatica in June 2018, thanks to the commitment of the working group (Asentics, Isra Vision, Kolektor, Kuka, Peer Group, Robert Bosch Manufacturing Solutions, Sirius Advanced Cybernetics, Silicon Software, Stemmer Imaging, Unified Automation and Vitronic). What has happened since then, and what plans are there for the future? Since the VDMA OPC Vision initiative is a joint working group of VDMA Machine Vision, OPC Foundation and other international machine vision associations (AIA, EMVA, JIIA, CMVU), each organisation has its own rules regarding the process for the final release. Those of the VDMA are based on the full consensus standardisation of DIN, the German institute for standardisation.


On 1 November, the VDMA specification sheet 40100-1 was published as a draft in the DIN- Publisher for Technical Rules, which is accompanied by a two-month public commentary phase, ending on 31 December 2018. The G3 commenting phase has already been finalised; the technical committee of OPC Foundation will also proof the final draft. After all these release processes have been completed, OPC Vision will be ready for final release from Q1/2019.


The process sounds complicated, but is necessary to give all involved players the chance to check and proof the content before it’s released officially.


What needs to be done? So far, OPC Vision Part 1 has been specified to the best of the working group’s knowledge and belief. For a credible and sustainable release of the standard, the working group’s ambition is to implement the specification and test it using


a real example. Implementation and testing activities have already started; results will be available in Q1/2019. This will help the working group identify possible errors and eliminate them before the final release in Q2/2019.


What happens after part 1? As Part 1 implies, the VDMA OPC Vision initiative does not end with its release. Part 1 lays the foundation, a kind of infrastructure layer, that enables a simplified and


Third UKIVA vision conference announced


By Paul Wilson, UKIVA chairman


The date for the 2019 UKIVA Machine Vision Conference and Exhibition has been set; Thursday 6 June at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes, UK. The format will be similar


to previous years, with a comprehensive programme of


technical seminars supported by an exhibition featuring vision component manufacturers, vision component and system distributors, and systems integrators from around the world. However, the 2019 conference will feature an additional theme covering applications of vision in automation and robotics. UKIVA has a natural affinity with the combined use of vision and robotics, as the British Automation and Robotics Association (BARA) is, like UKIVA, part of the Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA) umbrella. Many


12 Imaging and Machine Vision Europe • December 2018/January 2019


UKIVA members have an active interest in BARA as well. There was also a great deal of interest from visitors in the robots and cobots that were included as part of the exhibition in 2018. The release earlier in 2018 of the OPC UA companion specifications for robotics and machine vision by the VDMA has allowed the combination of vision, robotics and automation for Industry 4.0 and the smart factories of the future to move a step closer. These latest developments in communication standards make technical seminars


on the use of vision in robotics and automation even more relevant. While the conference sets out


to cover the key issues in machine vision, such as deep learning and embedded vision, as well as Industry 4.0, there will also be plenty of presentations that cover basic vision technology. Previous events have attracted large numbers of people who wanted to learn more about the fundamentals of vision technology, coupled with those who were keen to explore the latest developments. Other key topics that will be covered in depth will include 3D


@imveurope www.imveurope.com


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