Computer vision is a branch of AI that focuses on teaching computers to see and understand the world as humans do. This is achieved through the programming of algorithms and techniques that allow the analysis and processing of images and videos to identify objects, people, faces, emotions, patterns, …
Machine vision is applied in various areas, such as in the automotive industry to develop driver assistance systems, in security to identify people and objects in real time, in medicine for early detection of diseases, in robotics to control robots, and in the entertainment industry to create special effects in movies and video games.
Today, machine vision has become an essential technology in Industry 4.0, as it allows obtaining accurate, real-time information that helps to optimize production processes, quality control and fault detection in manufacturing.
The main applications for the industry include the following:
Quality control: allows you to identify errors, defects and quality problems in parts or products in real time, helping to ensure their quality and reduce costs associated with rework and product returns.
Part inspection: used to inspect parts on the production line, identifying defects, deviations and tolerances in dimensions and shapes, which helps to maintain product quality and improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process.
Process monitoring: allows real-time monitoring of production processes, detecting possible failures, inefficiencies and deviations in the processes, which helps to make decisions to improve efficiency and productivity.
Robotization: used to provide robots with sensing capabilities, enabling them to be able to detect and recognize objects and parts, which facilitates their integration into automated production processes.
Specifically, machine vision technology with products of the brand name KEYENCE CORPORATION allows to carry out visual controls in production processes in an automatic way, in real time communication with automatons that allow the interaction with different machines, as well as warnings and registration of information in a database for its later analysis in MES systems.
The system has one or more cameras configured with different programs, which are activated according to the needs of the production processes. In continuous production, the system automatically selects the required program and starts performing visual checks automatically. If an error is detected, it is reported to the PLC, which is able to intervene directly in the industrial systems.
The processing capacity is instantaneous, allowing vision processes, data management and interaction with the plant in milliseconds.
We are currently involved in a project for the automotive sector where operators interact with an interface to instruct the system to perform a visual verification. Subsequently, they can check on a screen whether the work has been done correctly. If not, the system records the event in a database and retains the authorization to proceed to the next process. In addition, through the interface, operators can access relevant production information, such as the number of units to be produced, those that have already been correctly assembled and other important details for correct manufacturing.