Throughout the world several thousand robots are used for applications such as packaging, soldering, adhesive bonding, coating, etc. They are equipped with various cameras, mostly smart cameras, such as the smart cameras of the EyeCheck 1000 series from EVT.
Due to the development in image processing, resulting in more and more powerful and easy-to-handle machine vision systems, the application areas also increased.
With the EyeCheck series, EVT offers a combination of smart camera and evaluation and processing software, called EyeVision. In the camera housing there is already integrated the lens (the user can chose between 6 mm, 12 mm and 25 mm lenses) and the illumination (available in different colors). The EyeCheck 1000 is available in various resolutions, from 782 x 485 pixel up to 1280 x 1024 pixel. And the smart cameras contain the full command set of the EyeVision Standard image processing software.
The EyeCheck systems can be used for robot positioning and object detection. Additionally they can be used for custom-made solutions for position correction and can be mounted onto e.g. articulated robots. The moving or stationary objects are illuminated with the camera-owned LEDs in the gripping area of the robot. The cameras can be mounted onto the robot arm. Then follows the evaluation of the images by the EyeVision software. The robot control then gets the XY-position and direction coordinates of the detected objects. Thanks to the robust evaluation algorithms the EyeVision software delivers reliable results even in difficult environments.
There is also the possibility to integrate more than that function, as the EyeVision software has also commands for code reading, color and surface inspection as well as commands for measuring objects. The system is configured and controlled by the user via the graphical user interface. The drag-and-drop programming allows an easy adjustment to different objects. The connection of the inspection program can be to an external computer or the system control of a plant via e.g. Ethernet or PROFINET.
Applications are for example position control and this can be in combination with inspection, measurement and identification tasks. Application areas are plant engineering and automotive branch and many more.