Vision systems give industrial robots “eyes,” allowing them to see their surroundings and increase accuracy. Not only will this allow robots to perform more complex tasks, but it will also allow manufacturers to enter a new era of intelligent and efficient tools.
What is a vision system for industrial robots?
The robot’s vision system consists of a camera, a light source, and a programming program. The camera captures the image, and the software analyzes and extracts the basic information (size, position, angle). The software then sends commands to the robot to perform operations such as cutting and cleaning.
Why add a "vision" system to a robot?
Advanced Quality: Allows assembly and use with millimeter scale or greater precision.
Advanced Adjustment: Automatically adjusts the movement according to position changes, eliminating the need to rely on fixtures.
Low Cost: Reduces financial investment and improves production efficiency.
Quality Analysis: Enables early detection of defects and full scalability.
Core Methods
Instructions: Examples include production control and picking from randomly placed boxes.
Skills: QR code/barcode reading, OCR number recognition.
Size: Contact size to ensure accuracy.
Inspection: Identify ground boundaries and correct elevation.
Types of Visual Systems
2D Vision: Most commonly used for aligning surfaces and scanning barcodes.
3D Vision: Ideal for heavy, random assembly and requiring a lot of detail.
Smart Cameras: Anything that can be used for small to medium surveillance or camera deployment operations.
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Lighting: High contrast lighting reduces glare and shadows.
Calibration: Establishing the correct relationship between pixels and coordinates of the robot.
Programming: Visual data should be seamlessly integrated with the robot controller.
Future: AI-enabled vision systems
Deep learning allows robots to “self-learn,” to learn complex patterns without the need for handwritten rules. In the future, AI-combined vision will not only support complex assembly and processing, but also improve predictive control through image tracking, elevating robots to a level of intelligence and autonomy.
In a nutshell
Vision systems give robots “eyes” and “brains,” transforming them from rigid taskmasters into flexible, intelligent assistants. By combining AI and deep learning, robot vision will increase manufacturing efficiency in the future.