Present and Future Capabilities of Machine Vision

In the 1900s, many businesses realized human limitations and began manufacturing their products in factories with the help of automated processes. As factories and manufacturing advanced, these automated processes became even more efficient over the years until technology reached a point where computers and cameras could be added into the equation. That’s where machine vision comes into play.

With machine vision, businesses use technology to improve the quality and efficiency of operations which require complex industrial tasks to be resolved consistently. It involves using digital or analog cameras and linking them up to a computer system in order to allow the system to recognize an image and take action. Some of the most common components that are involved in machine vision include cameras, sensors, frame-grabbers, software, computers, and algorithms.

Machine Vision is More Accurate

The human eye is responsive to electromagnetic wavelengths from 390 to 770 nanometers, while video cameras can sense a much broader range including ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths. It’s easy to recognize the limitations of the human eye, which is why machine vision has been implemented into a variety of different business processes. Tasks involving pattern recognition, material inspections, barcode reading and counting are typically best performed when left to the machines. Consider all the ways that machine vision can help companies reach their productivity goals– it allows for higher quality products, increased productivity, lower capital equipment costs, lower production costs, and a reduction in floor space, among other benefits.

Cameras Don’t Get Tired– or Bored

Some of the most effective ways that machine vision is being used are related to industrial processes. These are tasks that are prone to human error and can be dragged down in terms of efficiency without the help of technology and digital devices. The most common process that machine vision is capable of improving is manufacturing operations. Machine vision is commonly used to eliminate defective products based on a series of predetermined criteria that have been programmed into a computer or software. As you can imagine, production line defects have been essentially eliminated thanks to the capabilities of this incredible technology. Machine vision can also be used in tasks like inventory control, measurements, calibration, and even farming.

What’s Next?

It’s fascinating to think about the future capabilities of machine vision. Consider ideas like self-driving cars and drone delivery systems that could become a reality sooner than you think thanks to the capabilities of machine vision. We can also anticipate even better production in factories and industrial tasks as AI and machine vision become more advanced. There is also talk of new products that rely on machine vision such as smart glasses that might become a new staple in our technologically advanced world. The truth is that the sky is the limit for this technology, and the companies that are targeting growing markets like robotics and autonomous vehicles have an opportunity to generate massive new revenue as the technology improves.