MVTec Software, provider of software for industrial image processing (machine vision), Bosch Rexroth and Bosch Manufacturing Solutions (BMG) are collaborating on the integration of machine vision into ctrlX OS-based automation. As part of the collaboration, MVTec and BMG become ctrlX World partners. The aim is to make it easier for users in the automation industry to benefit from the advantages of machine vision. With HALCON, MVTec provides the technology for machine vision. With the Nexeed Integrated Vision app, BMG enables the use of HALCON procedures on ctrlX OS. And ctrlX OS in turn, is the open, hardware-independent operating environment, as well as the associated partner ecosystem provided by Bosch Rexroth. The collaboration will particularly benefit machine builders, automation manufacturers, system integrators and manufacturing companies that want to use machine vision as part of their automation.

“With our MVTec HALCON software and our expertise, we support companies in automating a wide range of tasks in industrial environments. Industrial ecosystems such as the ctrlX OS Ecosystem provide a new and easy way to access the benefits of machine vision. The collaboration with Bosch Rexroth and BMG is therefore an important step for the automation industry, helping companies digitalize and automate processes profitably, thereby increasing their competitiveness,” says Dr. Maximilian Lückenhaus, director marketing + business development at MVTec Software.

Open operating system as the foundation for machine vision

The Linux-based ctrlX OS operating system forms the software foundation of Bosch Rexroth’s ctrlX CORE control platform and is also available as hardware-independent. Through the ctrlX OS Store, users have access to apps from Bosch Rexroth and other providers. “The strength of ctrlX OS lies in bringing different technologies together easily on a common platform. The collaboration with MVTec and BMG demonstrates exactly this: Powerful machine vision is made available on ctrlX OS via Nexeed Integrated Vision, where it can be combined with additional automation functions. This creates new opportunities for machine builders and users to enhance their automation flexibly and software-based”, explains Carina Heil, group lead business operations automation software at Bosch Rexroth.

Industrial ecosystems provide a common framework for the development, deployment and maintenance of automation applications. The partnership aims to make these benefits available for machine vision, as well. This will make it easier to combine machine vision functions with other functions of a machine or system.

With Nexeed Integrated Vision, BMG has developed an app that makes HALCON procedures available on ctrlX OS. It creates the technical link between MVTec’s machine vision software, Bosch Rexroth’s operating environment and industrial control technology. Based on this system, applications such as quality inspection or component identification can be combined with additional automation functions on a common ctrlX OS-based platform.

“With Nexeed Integrated Vision, we solve a key problem for system integrators: the time-consuming integration of machine vision into the control environment. By making HALCON procedures directly available on ctrlX OS and providing a defined connection to the control technology, we drastically reduce the programming effort. Integrators can now focus entirely on optimizing the application instead of spending valuable time on platforms and interface configuration,” says Marc Bindel, head of Nexeed Automation at Bosch Manufacturing Solutions.