Smart sensor platform for image processing applications

For the use of image processing systems as fast but accurate measuring equipment, the precision of the image capture is a crucial feature. In addition, larger amounts of data must be processed as achievable sensor resolutions and frame rates increase steadily. The Department of Quality Assurance and Industrial Image Processing of the Ilmenau University of Technology has developed a sensor platform that supports these requirements in the industrial and metrological field. The hardware was designed in terms of modularity and the use of distributed algorithms. The aim of this development was to combine the integrated intelligence of the individual components of the system to create new applications possibilities on hardware-level and to make them usable over a central interface. This publication describes the hardware structure and discusses the possible applications of the sensor platform.