Ask the Experts

I'm going to assume that by "GigE product" you mean a GigE Vision compliant camera. As John mentioned, Pleora is a fine option. Other suppliers have also wrapped the low level specification with their own higher-level API. Some, such as Matrox, Cognex, National Instruments and MVtec, license (almost) universal drivers for a fee. Another good option is the SDKs offered by most camera manufacturers. They tend to be free, but only work with that manufacturer's cameras. Basler Pylon is an example.

The best advice I can give you is to partner with a company that specializes in integrating machine vision. Many of these companies do only machine vision, so don't compete with more general control system integrators and machine builders. This approach will minimize the financial and technical risks, enabling you to deliver a great solution on-time. You can look over the specialist's shoulder as they develop the solution, learning about the technology for your next project.

The AIA has a list of Certified System Integerators: http://www.visiononline.org/mvo-content.cfm/machine-vision/AIA-Certified-System-Integrator-Program/id/187.

Note the list includes our company, i4 Solutions. http://www.i4solutions.us

Hi David, Thanks for posting to the experts! I'd suggest talking to a couple of the AIA Certified System Integrators. You can be sure these companies have the expertise to succeed on your project. The list of certified integrators is in the right column on the page below: http://www.visiononline.org/mvo-content.cfm/machine-vision/AIA-Certified-System-Integrator-Program/id/187

Send me a private message if you'd like to have a brief discussion to see if your project is a fit for us.

You can try a polarizing filter to reduce glare. A hood around the lens might also help, though that may be hard to accomplish given your lens's very wide field of view. I assume you're using the sun as your source of illumination, so you have little choice but to accept what it gives you. The alternative would be blocking the sun (a roof?) and installing your own LED lighting that you can control. The geometry (direction) and wavelength of the light will be important to optimizing contrast. If I understand your brief description, light coming from behind the log may be a good solution. Also, a camera having a better dynamic range would be more forgiving of the bright and dark areas.

You might consider grabbing an additional image with the laser turned off and an appropriate 2D light turned on, in order to view the 2D code. Or, your friends at Sick make the Ranger camera that can grab both 2D and height info.

Hi Ivan, thanks for posting. Here is some info I think you'll find helpful. Basler has a white paper about synchronous capture using their cameras: http://s.baslerweb.com/media/documents/BAS1601_White_Paper_Multi_Camera_applications_EN.pdf I recommend the new Basler acA1920-40gm camera. Great for outdoors, given 73 db dynamic range and 70% quantum efficiency. Great value, and not too far from your goal. Note dynamic range comes in part from the camera's large pixels, which requires a higher cost 1" lens unless you can reduce resolution (AOI) to, say, 1440 x 1200. See https://machinevisionstore.com/Catalog/Details/1540. Regarding field of view, there is a lens calculator for this specific camera here: https://machinevisionstore.com/design/EntrocentricCalculator?cameraProductId=1540 Good luck with your project.

If space allows, a back light would make it easier. An IR wavelength, say 850 nm, may or may not help "see through" the water. Be sure your camera is sensitive enough in the near IR range, with any internal IR filter removed. Shorter wavelengths (closer to 800 than 900 nm) transmit better through typical lenses. You might also find that a polarizer/analyzer combination helps.

Although I'm not familiar with the AVT drivers, many GigE drivers have parameters intended to solve this problem. Specifically, camera parameters include Frame Transmission Delay, Inter-Packet Delay, and Bandwidth Reserve. Set the Frame Transmission Delay to different values for each camera so they don't all send at once.

Assuming you don't have those parameters available... It isn't clear to me whether the problem is in the switch or the VM. If the switch, you might think about a model having a chip dedicated to each port. If the VM, well, I wish you luck.

Hi Matt, We could help you with this. We've recently worked on similar projects delivering up to 100,000 lux over large areas. Please contact me directly for info.

Hi Randal, this sounds like something we can help you with, though we need to learn the specifics. Feel free to contact me at the email or phone number below.