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Machine-vision market stays strong

ControlDesign.com

Keywords: smart camera, machine vision, Product Roundup, vision components and Rick Pedraza

Smart cameras and greater scalability are driving machine-vision innovations in discrete manufacturing, as products new to the market trend toward miniaturization to satisfy the need for compact systems.

New smart cameras and greater scalability are driving machine vision system innovations in the discrete manufacturing industry, according to a recent study released by the Automated Imaging Association (AIA). The study shows that sales and use of machine vision components in 2005 grew over the previous year, and predicts that 2006 will be even better.

“Machine vision markets continue to display strength and vitality with 2005’s results building on 2004’s record sales,” says Paul Kellett, AIA’s market analysis director. “All indications point to continued growth in 2006.”

AIA adds that smart cameras saw the healthiest increase in unit sales over the previous year (19%), while jumping 14.4% in revenue. Sales of application-specific machine vision systems rose 13.6% in units and 6.4% in revenue, with the fastest-growing component markets being cameras, optics, and vision software.

The assembly of machine vision components (below) responds to discrete manufacturers, which increasingly are seeking miniaturized components in response to the industry’s need for compact systems that provide increased throughput and accuracy. Advances in lighting and illumination, lasers, processors, sensors, and optics, as well as adoption of automation standards, contribute to greater use of devices with more flexibility and scalability across multiple production lines.

In addition, high-end machine vision imaging applications are moving from 2D to 3D. Frost & Sullivan’s research analyst, Vishnu Sivadevan, says machine-vision system integrators face growing challenges to provide systems that not only reduce set-up time, but also incorporate enhanced functionality, scalability, and upgradeability.

“Upgrading to 3D inspection systems from 2D inspection systems would constitute a phenomenal leap in performance for certain applications,” observes Sivadevan. “Researchers currently are working toward the development of real-time autonomous robotic guidance using machine-vision systems.

Sivadevan adds the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is working with a group of universities in the U.K. to incorporate artificial intelligence in robotics. As part of its on-going project, the department of electrical and electronic engineering at the University of Manchester developed a vision chip capable of foveal and peripheral vision similar to the retina of the human eye, which could be useful for factory automation applications. Defined as a smart sensor, this vision chip performs the functions of a vision sensor and a microprocessor capable of processing complex images at rapid rates, and is expected to be used in laser-guided crawlers for carrying out tasks such as machining and inspection.