Machine Vision Overview and Features

The RIA Robotic Industries Association's automation defines machine vision as: "Machine vision automatically receives and processes images of a real object through optical devices and non-contact sensors to obtain the required information or Device for controlling robot movement."

The machine vision system refers to the image captured by a machine vision product (ie, an image pickup device, which is divided into two types: CMOS and CCD), and then the image is transmitted to a processing unit, which is processed through digitization, according to pixel distribution, brightness, color, and other information. , to determine the size, shape, color, etc. Furthermore, based on the result of the determination, the on-site facility operation is controlled.

With the development of computer technology and field bus technology, machine vision is becoming more and more mature. It has become an indispensable product for modern processing and manufacturing. It is widely used in food and beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, building materials and chemicals, metal processing, electronic manufacturing, and packaging. , automobile manufacturing and other industries.

The introduction of machine vision, instead of the traditional manual detection methods, has greatly improved the quality of products put on the market and improved the production efficiency.

In modern industrial automation production, it involves a variety of inspection, production monitoring and part identification applications, such as dimensional inspection of spare parts batch processing, integrity inspection of automatic assembly, automatic positioning of components of electronic assembly lines, and characters on ICs. Identification and so on. Normally, the human eye cannot complete these highly repeatable and intelligent tasks continuously and stably. Other physical quantity sensors are also difficult to use. From this, people began to consider the use of photoelectric imaging system to capture the image of the controlled object, and then the computer or a dedicated image processing module for digital processing, according to the image pixel distribution, brightness and color information, to size, shape, color, etc. Discrimination. In this way, we combine the rapidity and repeatability of computers with the highly intelligent and abstract capabilities of human eyes, resulting in the concept of machine vision. (shenmeshi.cn collection)

A successful machine vision system is a system that has been carefully engineered to meet a set of defined requirements. When these requirements are fully determined, the system is designed and built to meet these precise requirements.

Machine vision features include the following:

â– High precision

As an accurate measurement instrument, a well-designed vision system can perform spatial measurements on one of a thousand or more components. Because such measurements do not require contact, there is no wear and danger to fragile parts.

â–  Continuity

The visual system can save people from fatigue. Because there is no manual operator, there is no human-induced change in operation. Multiple systems can be set to run individually.

â–  High cost efficiency

With the rapid decline in the price of computer processors, the cost-effectiveness of machine vision systems has also become higher and higher. A $10,000 visual system can easily replace three human probers, and each prober needs $20,000 per year. In addition, the operating and maintenance costs of the vision system are very low.

â– Flexibility

The vision system can make a variety of measurements. When the application changes, only the software needs to be changed or upgraded to meet the new requirements.

Many companies that apply Satisfactory Process Control (SPC) are considering applying machine vision systems to deliver continuous, coordinated, and accurate measurement SPC commands. In SPC, manufacturing parameters are continuously monitored. The entire process of control is to ensure that these parameters within a certain range. This allows the manufacturer to adjust the process parameters when the production process is out of control or a bad part occurs.

Machine vision systems are more adaptable than optical or machine sensors. They make automatic machines versatile, flexible and reconfigurable. When it is necessary to change the production process, "tool change" for machine vision is only a change of software rather than replacing expensive hardware. When the production line is reorganized, the visual system can often be reused.