Intelligent vision sensors, also known as intelligent cameras, are one of the fastest-growing new technologies in the field of machine vision in recent years. An intelligent camera is a small machine vision system that integrates image acquisition, image processing, and information transmission functions; it is a type of embedded computer vision system. It integrates an image sensor, digital processor, communication module, and other peripherals into a single camera. This integrated design reduces system complexity and improves reliability. At the same time, the system size is significantly reduced, broadening the application areas of vision technology.
Visual sensors are one of the three essential elements of modern robots (perception, decision-making, and action). Industrial robots are equipped with different types and specifications of sensors depending on the tasks they perform. Generally, robot sensors can be divided into two main categories based on their application: internal sensors for detecting the robot's own state and external sensors for detecting relevant environmental parameters. Today, we'll discuss one type of external robot sensor—the visual sensor, also known as the robot's "eyes."
Robots have "eyes," which is extremely important to us. Humans obtain most of their information from the outside world through their eyes; the number of human visual cells is more than three thousand times that of human auditory cells and more than one hundred times that of skin sensory cells. To endow robots with higher levels of intelligence, they must acquire more information about their surroundings through their visual systems. Examples of typical applications of robot vision include: welding robots using vision systems for job positioning; vision systems guiding robots in painting operations; and handling robots using vision systems to guide electromagnetic chucks to grasp workpieces.
A robot's vision must be able to understand information in three-dimensional space. This means that robot vision differs from text recognition or image recognition, requiring three-dimensional image processing. Because vision sensors can only obtain two-dimensional images, the same object viewed from different angles will produce different images; the position of the light source will also affect the brightness and distribution of the image. To address this issue, many measures have been taken to improve the external environment, enhance the functionality of the vision system itself, and utilize better information processing methods, in order to reduce the burden on the vision system. Key components include: 1. Video cameras; 2. Photoelectric conversion devices (CCD sensors, MOS image sensors); 3. PSD sensors; 4. Shape recognition sensors; 5. Industrial robot vision systems (basic principles of industrial robot vision systems, industrial robot systems that use vision recognition to grasp workpieces).
A robot's "eyes" don't actually "see" anything. They're simply equipped with visual sensors that scan their environment and detect obstacles. When they encounter a human or an obstacle, they can slow down or stop. As more robots enter factory floors, safety remains a major concern. Robots and safety are inextricably linked. You can't have human-robot collaboration without mitigating the risk of injury. If your robot is handling sharp objects, it's unsafe for a person to be nearby without protective safety measures. Another scenario is if the robot is handling heavy objects; if the object falls or becomes a projectile at a certain speed, it could cause injury. To make people feel safe around these robots, we need to understand what they're going to do next. Low-cost, automated robots are the true essence of robotics. Factories are enabling higher output with the same number of people, achieving maximum productivity at the lowest cost. Combining robots with autonomous mobile robots, augmented reality, wearables, and other advanced technologies to equip smart, digital factories, you have an entertaining, forward-looking future of automated manufacturing. In the future, robots will work hand-in-hand with human teams to improve efficiency and productivity.
