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Machine vision systems for industrial inspection can now generally be classified into three types:

 

    Smart camera systems

    GUI ("point and click") oriented systems

    Traditional, fully programmable systems

 

Smart camera systems are basic systems that process image data at the camera.  They are often the minimum-cost solution but generally have the least amount of power and flexibility.  They typically have little or no programmability but can reliably perform certain basic inspection tasks.

 

GUI systems are designed to be programmable using a point and click, graphical user interface.  Some versions of these systems can generate or incorporate traditional programming code as well.  They offer much of the functionality and power of the traditional systems, often with greatly shortened development cycles.  In addition, they offer the advantage that system modifications can often be made by manufacturing engineers, operators, or other plant personnel.

 

Traditional vision systems are fully programmable in a standard language such as C, C++, or Visual Basic.  Many of these systems, like their GUI counterparts, take advantage of the ActiveX programming methodology wherein vision tools are manipulated using properties, methods, and events.  These systems generally offer the highest level of flexibility and power but development times are typically longer and require more experienced personnel.  Traditional systems are typically used for more demanding applications and in OEM applications where lower unit cost is a critical factor.

 

 

Machine vision is a key technology for both industrial inspection and process control.  Although many early machine vision installations were targeted primarily on inspection tasks, the benefits and reliability have led many companies to utilize the technology for process control as well.

 

The lower cost of many vision systems has opened up the market for basic inspection applications in many types of manufacturing lines.  Such systems are being widely deployed for part and defect detection, general size and shape inspection, and even color discrimination.

 

High resolution cameras and higher-speed vision systems are leading the way to solving applications that were previously impossible, or which required multiple cameras and/or processor boards.  As a result, both system accuracy and throughput are vastly improved, and fewer design tradeoffs need to be made in today's machine vision systems.