Low-cost Vision System Research Articles

Low cost vision system for an educational platform in artificial intelligence and robotics

AbstractThis paper presents a web‐cam based vision system for performing image processing in real time. It was implemented as part of an AI and Robotics educational platform designed to study collaborative moving robots in a dynamic environment. A color based image segmentation algorithm was developed with careful attention to algorithm efficiency, due to hardware limitations for the maximum frame rate. This led to a simple and cost‐effective vision system that is able to detect and identify several mobile robots through successive frames. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 10: 238–248, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.10026

Object Oriented Low Cost Picture Processing

Low cost vision systems gain more and more importance in robotics and in intelligent manufacturing automation. This paper presents the solution to realize a low cost vision system based on a PC. The function and co-operation of this components, such as the programming of the vision system are described. The programming of the PC based vision system is realized by object oriented programming using an object oriented image processing concept.

A low-cost vision system combining conventional and artificial intelligence techniques for complex image inspection and verification

A hybrid image processing technique is described which combines traditional feature extraction and windowing with a new artificial intelligence technique based on weightless neural networks. This technique is a unique way of compressing and then analysing complex data. Described here is its application to the measuring of light scattered for machine surfaces as well as the inspection of complex and highly coloured images. These examples illustrate the distinctive nature of the system. It is called WISE (Windowed Image Shaped Extraction) because it describes the stages of image processing.

Machine Vision Analysis of Welding Region and its Application to Seam Tracking in Arc Welding

Unlike the application of machine vision in many other fields, there is a particular problem in developing machine vision for automated and robotic welding processes, because the disturbance of the arc light deteriorates the field to be viewed. This paper describes an analysis of the radiated energy from the weld pool, and based on this describes how vision sensing of the welding region may be improved. An approach using specified pattern parameters is described to evaluate the ability to recognize an acquired image under different conditions such as with vidicons or sensor devices, different welding variables and optical parameters. Based on analysis of radiation from the welding region, a satisfactory wavelength range for sensing the image of the weld region is proposed and proved by experimentation. Images of gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) and gas metal arc welding (GMAW) regions have been modelled and successfully implemented for seam tracking control with a simultaneously developed low-cost vision system.

Technology 1992-industrial electronics

Important trends and events are highlighted. The use of fuzzy logic expanded. The use of programmable logic controllers in distributed control made headway. Low-cost vision systems were introduced, as were faster X-ray laminography systems. Growing emphasis on keeping humans who work around robots safe was evident. More robust motion and speed controls for both robots and motors became available.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

3-D camera calibration using vanishing point concept

A three-dimensional (3-D) camera calibration technique that uses two-dimensional (2-D) grid paper and a vanishing point concept was developed and tested. The calibration technique does not require knowledge of the precise location of the calibration target as other calibration techniques require. The algorithm developed consists of the following steps: (1) Use a point-finder program with a subpixel interpolation technique to identify the points on a grid. (2) Apply an equalization procedure. (3) Use a line-finder program with a statistical linear regression technique to identify a line. (4) Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until all the lines are found. Then divide the lines into two groups—horizontal and vertical. (5) Determine one vanishing point for all the horizontal lines and one vanishing point for all the vertical lines. (6) Using the same vanishing point concept, determine the vanishing points for the planes of sight in space (horizontal and vertical). (7) Determine the camera location and rotational matrix. By using statistical methods, resolution at the subpixel level was achieved. Commercially available components were used in the vision system for this project. The results of the two tests showed that a low-cost vision system can make 3-D coordinate measurements as exact as 5 mils (0.005 inches) in accuracy and 1 mil in repeatability when properly set up and used with this calibration technique.

Industrial electronics: Automation for increased competitiveness high-precision, low-cost vision system for OEM monitoring controllers' faults ‘cutting’ a part at a computer terminal

The power of industrial systems that see, sense, move, and cut parts increased last year, and better systems emerged for controlling manufacturing processes and communicating with other systems. Powerful manufacturing software was also under development to let designers `make' and `test' new parts on a computer screen rather than by trial and error during manufacturing. Specific developments examined are the miniaturization of programmable controllers; the emerging need for a tenfold jump in the resolution of vision systems; the increased use on the production floor of computers, which have been developed to withstand unfavorable operating conditions and abuse; the introduction of local area networks consistent with the Manufacturing Automation Protocol, for communication among programmable controllers and other data processing systems; advanced sensors; and software that simulates the manufacturing process, allowing designs to be tested before they are produced.

Application of a Low Cost Vision System to Automatic Assembly

In this paper, a cost-effective optical system for the determination of the centroid and orientation of a class of 2½ D dimensional objects is discussed. To test the method and its suitability to near-industrial conditions, an experimental vision station, consisting mainly of a low cost binary camera and an IBM PC microcomputer, have been mounted on a flat-top conveyor. For demonstration, the station has been serially linked to a Puma 560 manipulator to assist in performing some rudimentary tasks on the moving objects. The test results have successfully demonstrated that the resolving power and speed of this simple system can bring significant benefits to small and medium industries in automating their assembly lines.

Low cost vision system for simple recognition

The 9800 is a cost effective system that can be readily modified as demands for inspection or recognition change.