"Smart Eyes" of Industrial Robots: Machine Vision for Industry

Machine vision for industry is a non-contact optical sensing system that integrates both hardware and software, capable of automatically acquiring information or generating control actions from the images it captures.

In simple terms, it uses computer systems to simulate the visual function of the human eye, extracting information from images or image sequences, processing and understanding it, and ultimately applying it for inspection, measurement, and control.

Principles of Machine Vision for Industry

A typical machine vision system captures the image information of a target object using a camera. The analog image data is then converted into a digital image signal, which is transmitted to a higher-level digital image processing system. In this system, based on pixel distribution, brightness, reference points, colors, and other data from the image, the position and shape of the target are calculated. Finally, the system uses the processed data to control actuators to perform the corresponding operations. Today, machine vision for industry has been applied in fields such as agricultural product sorting, medical imaging, product packaging inspection, and industrial processes.

Applications of Machine Vision for Industry

Machine vision for industry has broad applications in the industrial sector, primarily in three functions: visual measurement, visual guidance, and visual inspection.

• Visual Measurement: This function is used for parts requiring high precision, such as components with tolerances in the millimeter or even micrometer range, which cannot be achieved by human eyes. For example, the dimensions of high-precision threaded holes must be measured using machine vision to ensure the correct fit and precision of connections.

  
  

• Visual Guidance: This function enables machine vision systems to quickly and accurately locate parts and verify their position, guiding robotic arms to pick and place them accurately. For example, in random part picking, a 3D image of randomly distributed components in a toolbox is scanned. Using pattern recognition, the best pick-up points for the robotic arm are identified to guide the automated production process.

  
  

• Visual Inspection: Machine vision systems inspect products on production lines for quality issues, checking their appearance, comfort, and functionality. This is one of the most common applications where machine vision has replaced human labor. For instance, both domestic and international systems use machine vision for detecting geometric shapes and surface defects in potatoes, classifying them based on these features.

  
  

Machine vision for industry significantly enhances the flexibility and automation of industrial production. It also allows tasks that are difficult or dangerous for humans to be carried out, reducing the need for human labor in large-scale production and improving and ensuring product quality.

Application of Machine Vision for Industry in the Automotive Industry

The automotive manufacturing industry, one of the largest and most important industries in the world, has a history of more than 100 years of development. Compared to other industries, automotive manufacturing has several distinct characteristics: massive production volumes with rapid growth, frequent model updates, and extremely complex manufacturing processes. The application of machine vision technology in the automotive industry has greatly improved operational quality and efficiency while reducing labor intensity.

It has been successfully applied in many automotive OEMs, including vehicle and component automatic inspection, part 3D positioning, body assembly/processing, and parts traceability. The use of machine vision has been integrated throughout the entire car body manufacturing process, from initial material quality inspection to 100% online measurement of automotive parts, and controlling key processes like welding, adhesive application, and punching. Finally, it ensures the quality of the final car body assembly and completed vehicle.

Currently, machine vision is widely used in various fields of modern industry. As it continues to evolve, its potential for future development is vast, and machine vision technology will undoubtedly become the "smart eye" leading the way to higher, faster, and more stable automation in the industrial era.

In other civil fields, the development of machine vision for industry will also reach new heights. Modern manufacturing, healthcare, electronics, and warehousing, among other sectors, will see new applications that promote the development of the intelligent age. The hardware systems for machine vision will evolve toward embedded solutions, with increasing computational efficiency and intelligence.