Highlights of the International Robots & Vision Show, June 5-7, 2001

For vendors of machine vision systems, the Robots & Vision Show buoyed spirits. Informally polled on how their business was going, virtually all acknowledged that compared to the first half a year ago business levels were down. Some admitted that the boom times of a year ago lulled them somewhat and that the change has forced them to make decisions that will ultimately make their companies better. Most also acknowledged that, given the state of the economy, they were surprised at both the level and quality of those attending the Show.

Not only has the economy wreaked havoc with show attendance this year generally, but the Robots & Vision Show also had to contend with the weather. On the first day of the show it rained heavily probably discouraging some of those who might otherwise have driven to the show. On the second day an early morning fog played havoc on those with plans to fly into O'Hare and catch the show for the day or the last two days. The net result was that the quality of the attendees had to be excellent since why else would they be going to the show having to contend with economic and weather issues.

Presence meant they had real machine vision applications that needed to be addressed. Significantly, show attendees mostly came from the Midwest, an area not as dependent on the semiconductor and electronic markets, where capital spending is off dramatically for the year. Many of those representing automotive industry requirements were from Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers who are under the gun to improve quality or lose business. A number of system integrators had booths at the show and they undoubtedly should see a payback.

In general, based on our show observations, those machine vision companies less dependent on the electronic and semiconductor markets should do reasonably well this year. People continue to eat and to take drugs for various ailments. However, since those markets are not as large as the electronic and semiconductor markets it is unlikely that overall revenues from the North American market will match those of last year. In terms of units, given the price/performance demonstrated at the Show, they may even be equal to last year.

Among the companies with major presence in the European market it was observed that in the first quarter sales were equal to or modestly better than the same quarter a year ago and the previous quarter. However, during the second quarter a noticeable deterioration in sales in Europe was also taking place. In Japan, as in the US, as the semiconductor and electronic markets go, so, too, goes the machine vision market. Hence, the Japanese market is expected to be off this year, although some were expecting a turn around in capital spending in these industries in the last quarter. It also seems that in the rest of the Pacific Rim countries, decline in sales from quarter-to-quarter was delayed by one quarter. Whereas in these two industries the decline started most perceptibly in the last quarter of 2000 in both the US and Japan, in the Pacific Rim (and Europe) the decline did not start until the first quarter of this year.

Suppliers of general-purpose products and image processing boards continue to look more alike. Many of both types of companies offer self-contained vision systems and board level vision systems that plug into PCs. Many companies traditionally offering machine vision development systems, which generally command a relatively high price, introduced less expensive self-contained or embedded vision computers/processors with somewhat less functionality and/or smart cameras. The trend clearly is to take advantage of microprocessor speed gains and price reductions and improve the price/performance of machine vision systems.

On the staging side, one could see more of the lighting and optic companies indicating a willingness to get involved in the design and build of unique application-specific lighting/optical arrangements. On the camera front one could see more products offered IEEE 1394 based or Camera Link based, with many of the board suppliers promoting their Camera Link interfaces.

The following is a summary of some of the new products introduced at the Show. This is not meant to summarize what all the exhibitors were displaying but rather just what was promoted as "new."

Vision Processors

Adept Technology, San Jose, CA - Announced they are now making their HexSight PC Vision software through the adept Preferred Vision Integrators. They also introduced their Adept SmartController, the first of a family of new distributed motion and vision controllers - CS, which comes configured for standard applications that do not require vision or conveyor belt tracking. The CX version, scheduled for release this fall, will support AdeptVision AVI and conveyor belt tracking. The IEEE-1394 is the basis of the new distributed controls architecture.

Avalon Vision Solutions, Lithia Springs, GA - In addition to their latest versions of their empty cavity inspection systems they were exhibiting product they were introducing to the plastic injection molding market to perform off-line dimensional checks on molded plastic  parts.

Cognex, Natick, MA - Introduced their In-Sight 1000C, a smart camera designed for verifying and sorting parts based on their color. Unit communicates over Ethernet. Also announced additions to their general-purpose machine vision line -  their Checkpoint III, a frame grabber-based system for use with a host PC and Checkpoint IV, a stand-alone unit, multi-camera capable system. Both systems feature a library of MMX-optimized vision software tools and Windows-based GUI.

Datacell, N. Billerica, MA - Introduced their Phoenix PCI Camera Link frame grabber equipped with FPGA in acquisition control supporting analog or digital area or line scan. Board supports both 64-bit/66 MHZ and 32-bit/ss MHZ buses. Unit can process up to 528 MB/sec without host intervention.

Data Translation, Marlboro, MA - Released their DT Vision Foundry 3.0 Windows-based machine vision software with customized vision tools that perform applications requiring feature finding, classification, bar code reading, gauging, counting, presence verification, sorting, etc. Latest version includes faster asynchronous triggering modes and frame grabber control, new import tool for importing variable data, new export tool, new prompt tool, enhanced color plane tool including HIS image Processing, automatic thresholding, enhanced image classifier.

Deep Vision, Nova Scotia, Can - Relative newcomer to machine vision industry commercializing image understanding-based technique rigorous for any number of shape-based recognition applications. Models are derived based on real time line/edge tracking developing unique single pixel wide edge traces. Generic curve segments, extracted from the edge traces, are used as symbol contour-based shape descriptors. The approach provides a multi-level representation for a class of objects based on a single-story model.

Epix, Buffalo Grove, IL - Introduced their smart camera, a self-contained camera with CMOS-based imager, frame grabber card and interface cables. Unit offers resolution of 1288 X 1032, 10 bits at up to 27 PFS.

Euresys, Dallas, TX - Introduced GrabLink Value, a Camera Link frame grabber. Single PCI board supports single tap, dual tap or RGB cameras. Also introduced Domino Alpha frame grabber compatible with acquiring images independently from two single-tap cameras or from one dual-tap camera. Also introduced Domino Gamma, frame grabber that provides simultaneous acquisition from up to three analog cameras

General Vision, Petaluma, CA - Introduced both smart camera, software and board level products around ZISC-based neural net technology. ZEFIR is a point and click user interface software package to identify and classify objects where the annotated objects are transformed to a 1D feature vector. Neuro-Sight is an embedded vision board which can be configured as a smart camera supplied with a CMOS sensor. System can learn and recognize up to 156 categories of objects or textures.

Imagenation, Portland, OR - Introduced their PXR 800 PCI frame grabber board capable of handling up to four analog cameras with pixel jitter of less than 2.6 nanoseconds with less than ½ LSB noise.

Integral Vision, Farmington Hills, MI - Promoting their Industrial Vision Controller with new software for 1D bar codes and 2D symbol reading as well as OLE for process control.

i2S, Niskayuna, NY - While offering PCI-based board level products for line scan applications for sometime, the show saw them introduce their Parallelix Line Scan Image Processing Library to enable users to perform continuous, host-based, image processing while continuously grabbing line scan images. Software includes MMX-optimized algorithms, continuous blob analysis, continuous morphological filtering and continuous convolution filtering. Also introduced Horizon Link - their PCI board for Camera Link line scan cameras.

ISRA Vision Systems, Lansing, MI - Demonstrated recently introduced print inspection system based on their recently acquired RMV hardware and ISRA's software. System inspects for color registration and print problems. Also demonstrated small, stereo-based 3D machine vision system for robot guidance applications and systems capabilities for 3D vision guided robotic de-palletizing of auto panel body parts, 3D-based detection of defects on painted auto body panels (particles, inclusions, craters, pinpricks, drips, runs, scratches, orange peel), 3D gap and flushness measuring systems and system to inspect bead of adhesives or sealants.

Matrox, Dorvall, Can - Announced a 3U CompactPCI version of their Meteor-II/Multi-Channel frame grabber. Also announced their MIL 7.0 - the latest version of the Matrox Imaging Library which includes a Geometric Model Finder tool for geometric pattern recognition. Offers ability to find regardless of orientation and 50 - 200 percent scale changes. Tool incorporates method of calibration that transparently compensates for optical and perspective distortions and provides results in real-world coordinates. MIL 7.0 also includes support for JPEG2000 image compression/decompression standard.

Omron, Schaumburg, IL - In machine vision specifically highlighted F150-3 vision sensor with dual camera capability for simultaneous inspections. Unit includes an intelligent light source that enables the user to set light intensity and direction during inspection routines. Also new is their Windows-based software configuration/set up package. System functionality allows up to 16 set up scenes with up to 16 inspection windows in each scene or 64 processing items per scene. Also introduced their Z4LB triangulation-based laser displacement sensor based on Class II laser.

Optimet, Danvers, MA - Introduced their Conoline Line Scanner based their Conoscopic Holography technology, simultaneously taking 3D data from a projected line at 16,000 points per second, with a repeatability of up to 1.6 microns.

PLD Applications - Company out of France exhibiting at US show for the first time. They offer high speed signal processing boards which are compatible with any number of imaging applications - sonar, radar, medical imaging and machine vision. MAF, a French-based company in the food sorting business uses their products. Arrow is their US distributor.

PPT Vision, Eden Prairie, MN - Introduced DSL 7500 digital cameras capable of delivering 1000 X 1000 pixels (nominally) at 10 bits at 20 FPS and DSL 5600 delivering 640 X 480 pixels at 40 Hz. Also introduced EZ Gauge, a self-contained PC-based machine vision system. Unit comes with canned GUI specifically targeting online gauging applications. Demos at the booth depicted their DSL multi-camera capability, where multiple cameras can be configured on a production line each operating independent of the others, each performing their own unique inspection.

RVSI/Acuity CiMatrix, Canton, MA - Introduced Visionscape Express, a product that can be described as a stand alone embedded vision processor. Supporting two cameras and expandable to support four, unit offers 50 built-in vision and automatic identification software tools and incorporates Ethernet networking. Also introduced AppFactory 3.0 software giving users access to the entire set of vision and identification tools on their Visionscape 1000 series. Configuration is suitable for performing vision applications on a host PC. Software includes over 50 built-in vision and automatic identification tools. Also introduced the latest version of their HawkEye Smart Camera series targeted specifically at 1-D bar code and 2-D Data Matrix code fixed station readers. New unit includes software and lighting and optics and ability for 1/10,000th of a second exposure. Unit includes QuicSet laser targeting system for both visual laser targeting and audio feedback to align the camera.

Servo-Robot, St. Bruno, Can - While promoting their seam trackers and related product were also exhibiting their WISC - a handheld welding inspection system. Using laser triangulation techniques unit measures geometric features of weld and joint contours. Unit is based on Palm IIIc handheld organizer.

Components

Basler Vision Technologies, Exton, PA - Introduced their A200 Series camera family - the Basler A202k. Unit offers 1004 X 1004 progressive scan capability at 48 FPS with asynchronous reset as a Camera Link output.

Dalsa, Waterloo, Can - Announced their branding of their high performance area scan camera - DALSTAR - a  line of mega and multi-mega pixel, high sped, high dynamic range cameras.

Hitachi, Woodbury, NY - In addition to conventional analog cameras they were exhibiting their PL-A544, an IEEE-1394 camera with CMOS 1240 X 1030 imager with selectable 8 or 10 bit output and sub window sizing and positioning.

JAI, Glostrup, Denmark - Announced their CV-A11, progressive scan offering "switchless" remote set-up via RS-232 and software configurable partial scan capabilities yielding data at 124 FPS. Also introduced CV-A50/A60 interlaced cameras RS-232C controlled, CV-M7, a color megapixel camera (1300 X 1030)using proprietary design to achieve double-speed readout without sacrificing dynamic range; and VC-M4 1300 X 1030 progressive scan camera - 24 FPS, 10-bit output Camera Link is an optional output configuration for the CV-M4 and M7

Linos, Rockford, IL - Demonstrated a number of lens families: C-mount manual iris lenses with optimal field correction and color correction for visual and near IR; right angle lens to view interior walls and telecentric lenses designed for an object distance of 250mm.

Meta Controls, Morrisville, NC - Company offers line of products that are IEEE 1394 compatible including FireView - a digital industrial camera. In addition they are offering BloxView and Visual Machines, object-based modular software environments for complex motion, machine vision and process control applications. Up to 30 cameras can be daisy-chained with FireBlox control modules.

Optem International, Fairport, NY - Introduced their Telecentric Zoom Optical System offering < 0.1% distortion resulting from varying perspective within the field-of-view. Zoom range is 0.75 to 7.5x, resolution 56 - 560 lp/mm, and depth-of-field of 1.56 - 0.0156. Also introduced their extended life zoom lens - Zoom 70 XL, guaranteeing defect-free operation through 250,000 zoom cycles.

Point Gray, Vancouver, Can - Introduced their DragonFly OEM-style 1394 board level camera. Unit comes with an IEEE-1394 interface card, cable and image acquisition software. It is network-capable and up to 16 cameras can be connected to the same bus using IEEE 1394 hubs, which allows simultaneous image acquisition from each camera to within 10 microseconds.

Sony, Park Ridge, NJ - Exhibited their recently introduced 1/2 " progressive scan CCD IEEE-1394 cameras (DFW-SX900 and 700) with 1280 X 960 7.5 FPS and 1024 X 768 15 FPS performance, respectively. At the show they introduced a complete digital image management solution designed to control multiple IEEE 1394 compliant and compatible images on PC or video monitors, store images on local media or a network, share images via e-mail, print images to a local printer and allow remote access to images via the Internet.

StockerYale, Salem, NH - Introduced several products at the show: Lasiris Mini Laser delivering non-gaussian, evenly illuminated line with sharp ends in a 10 mm diameter package, Class II, IIIa and IIIb CDRH and IEC 60825-1 compliant; sealed fluorescent lighting fixtures manufactured to NEMA 12 specifications available in twin 4 watt, twin 6 watt, twin 8 watt or twin 13 watt configurations and available in a variety of colors; and a line of white LED modules.