A Study on Modified Hough Algorithm for Image Processing in Weld Seam Tracking System

Abstract

In modern market, achieving mechanical and automatic arc welding process is the key issue to be solved in welding industries. Because of the high complexity of the welding environment, manual detection of the weld line information is hard to be successful and time consuming. Therefore, this study aim at developing a new image processing algorithm for seam tracking system in Gas Metal Arc (GMA) welding by modified Hough algorithm based on the laser vision system. Firstly, noises in the captured weld seam images by CCD camera were effectively removed by noise filtering algorithm and then weld joint position were detected by the modified Hough algorithm to realize the automatic weld seam tracking. To verify the efficiency of the developed image processing model, a common image processing method was employed and the processed results were compared with the proposed algorithm. Statistical results proved that the modified Hough algorithm was able to acquire the weld information precisely with less computing time and memory cost, which also capable for industrial application.