Vision systems play a critical role in factory automation. They guide, inspect and track product manufacturing, assembly and packaging to meet today’s quality standards. But vision systems are not an end unto themselves as a production line, cell or machine’s purpose is first and foremost to manufacture, assemble and package products. Being a small cog in a big wheel, vision systems must coexist and fit in with other indispensable and often already-present and proven automation processes and equipment. It is more practical to make changes to the vision system rather than changing the whole production line.
Today, it is necessary for vision systems to provide capabilities beyond image capture and analysis to integrate as tightly and seamlessly as possible with established automation processes and equipment. They must respond to external requests as well as provide results and/or output actions externally in a timely fashion. Another important consideration is that vision systems should not adversely affect the overall production speed. They must be capable of integrating without slowing down the existing production line.