Machine vision reaches top gear

The power and simplicity of a new generation of machine vision systems have done much to overcome the automotive industry's reluctance to invest in this technology. Most vision applications in the automotive industry are for machine guidance or quality inspections. In quality control inspections, the vision system determines whether parts or sub-assemblies are acceptable or defective and then directs motion control equipment to reject or accept them. Machine guidance applications use vision systems to improve the accuracy and speed of assembly robots and automated materials handling equipment in several areas. The most advanced machine vision systems enable a robot to locate the part or sub-assembly on which it is working, regardless of rotation or scale. In most applications, machine vision provides real-time data and live feedback to guide robots as they go through programmed sequences of operations. The new generation of vision systems can be trained to look for detailed patterns and shapes that match templates for correctly made subassemblies. Powerful pattern recognition capabilities allow vision systems to find missing material, chips, scratches, dents, misplaced markings and a variety of other flaws. As well as ensuring the quality of finished parts and products, they also enable manufacturers to reduce costs by eliminating defective pieces before wasting additional material and time on them.