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esearchers at Loughborough University have shown


that a terahertz wave camera can capture 3D images of microscopic items, suggesting that terahertz waves could be used for microscopy in future. Te team, led by Dr Luana


Olivieri in collaboration with the Emergent Photonics Research Centre (EPic), demonstrated that terahertz waves can be used to identify embedded objects and features such as cracks and bubbles in microscopic three- dimensional space. Teir method allows smaller


Visions of tomorrow: News from MVC 2023 g


objects to be seen more clearly in 3D. Until now, the method


sit between microwave and infrared light on the electromagnetic spectrum, are still relatively unexplored. However, they have unique properties such as the ability to penetrate opaque objects without causing harm. Te team said terahertz


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Terahertz camera captures ‘breakthrough’ 3D images of microscopic world


was only proven to work on 2D objects, the university said, claiming the new approach is a “major breakthrough”. Although in its early stages,


the scientists said their work could have “major implications for a range of fields with relevance in cancer screenings, security, and materials research”. Terahertz waves, which


Loughborough University


Top leſt: Photographic image of the cube with objects embedded. The pop-out image is a graphical sketch showing objects made of plastic, sugar and PTFE (a synthetic polymer) embedded at different depths. Top right: A 3D graphical sketch showing terahertz waves passing through the cube. Bottom: Real images captured by the terahertz wave camera. The images show objects embedded in the cube were detected at different depths


to three hours of a doctor’s time. AI vision systems are also being used in


By Allan Anderson, UKIVA Chairman


Artificial intelligence (AI) has hit the headlines recently, bringing the subject to a wide audience. However, AI is already common in many industrial processes – including machine vision. Some examples were highlighted at the recent Machine Vision Conference (MVC). Jeff Burnstein, president of US trade body


A3, cited several case studies in his keynote speech – including Microsoft’s ‘InnerEye’ project. This combines computer vision and machine learning to automate the analysis and preparation of medical images. Addenbrooke’s Hospital in the UK has used InnerEye’s open-source software to develop Osairis – an AI tool that cuts waiting times for radiotherapy treatment. It does this by preparing a scan automatically – saving up


‘precision farming’ – mounted on drones, which assess whether grapes are in prime condition. “It’s already being used by wineries in France and the Napa Valley,” said Burnstein. India-based Lincode is using AI to automate industrial inspection processes. “We use various methods to improve component inspection,” said Rajesh Iyengar, CEO of Lincode. Incorporating AI into vision systems


offers several advantages, he said: it is probabilistic – not deterministic – so offers more flexibility; and the underlying ‘intelligence’ can solve challenging problems using relatively cheap hardware. Iyengar cites a ‘world first’ example of this: inspecting aerospace parts using a mobile phone. In this case, Boeing needed an interior and exterior foreign object debris (FOD) inspection. Lincode recommended its Livis system loaded onto a mobile phone.


6 IMAGING AND MACHINE VISION EUROPE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023


“A single $1,000 phone was more flexible


and cost-effective than using multiple industrial cameras,” he said. Away from AI, a key aspect of vision


systems – the light source – is still being refined. Steve Kinney of Smart Vision Lights explains that pulsing LED lights is a way of creating “more light for free”. Here, an LED is overdriven by up to 10 times its rating – but for very short periods. This ensures that it produces very bright light without burning up. The company also uses pulsing to overcome the physical effects of strobing. Strobing is common in machine vision, but can cause conditions such as headaches and nausea. ‘Hidden strobe’ technology pulses at a very high frequency that is undetectable by the human eye. MVC ran as a two-day event this year


– for the first time – and was co-located with robotics event Automation UK. Fifty different papers were presented in five conference theatres. The next co-located event takes place in Coventry on 18-19 June 2024.


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