- Email: [email protected]
Vision interface to VME micros
Hardware processing in real time for 2D parameters Realtime 2D area parameter processing for machine vision systems can be implemented in hardware using athe APA 5 12MX, from Australian company Vision Systems. Custom-designed chips and specially developed algorithms give the system a I O-to- 1OO-fold speed advantage over comparable software-based methods, the company claims. Technology underlying the processor was developed at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). In a system configuration the area processing board set is designed to be incorporated into a VMEbus system, occupying two VME slots. A second bus, Maxbus, is used for high-speed data transfer to the board set from image capture or preprocessing modules. Data from the board set is available to the host processor via dual-port memory. As the board set is designed to be the last module in the ‘vision engine’, preprocessing, enhancement and fiitering are applied prior to area analysis. Data for processing by the host system is produced by the board set at the rate of 30 frames s-l, the same scanning rate as a television camera.
Vision interface to WE micros A standalone microcomputer interface for industrial vision applications such as dimension gauging and process control, typically in the automotive and steel industries, is available from IPL. The 5000 series interface connects up to four 5000 series line cameras and 8- or 16-bit microprocessors via a parallel data highway. As it is based on a VMEbus structure, expansion of the system is possible, the company says. The interface synchronizes signals and clocks for the cameras and assigns a number to each pixel of each camera array. Each pixel is searched for an edge. If one is found the pixel number-is loaded in a firstin first-out (FIFO) buffer to be input
to a host computer. The 16-bit FIFO
48
elongated blobs; and discrimination parameters, which distinguish different shapes. Forty-five area parameters are calculated either directly by the board set or by software routines on the host system using the board set output as seed data. Resolution of the area processor is 512 x 512, making it viable for applications in robot guidance, production line quality control, sorting and bin picking. (Vision Systems Ltd, Innovation House West, Technology Park, The Levels, Adelaide, SA 509.5, Australia. Tel: (8) 349 5988) 0
Within the time taken for an image to be repIaced on screen by the succeeding image, the board set is able to calculate object recognition parameters for many objects in the scene. Two-dimensional binary images are analysed in the form of connected regions, or ‘blobs’ of the same polarity, indicating background or foreground blobs. Three types of area parameters are calculated for the blobs: location parameters, including the coordinates of the centre of the area and the containing area; orientation parameters, giving the direction of orientation of
VMEbus I
r
“1
Digitizer
m
f
1 APA area parameter processor
MAXbus
machine vision system con~guration showing the role of the AP 512-MX area parameter processor
Robot motion is analysed by 3D methods tree-dimensional measurement and motion analysis techniques are combined in Planer Industrial’s Robot Check II, a turnkey system designed for 3D motion analysis of indust~al robots. number gives the binary edge number, the final four bits holding the number of the camera in which the edge appears. Up to 5 12 edges can be stored in the FIFO. Reset can be used to disable camera inputs when not required. Reset release is synchronized internally with scan start to ensure complete scans are output. Minimum reset timing is 300 us. (Integrated Photomatrix Ltd, The Grove Trading Estate, Dorchester, Dorset DTI ISY, UK. Tel: (0305) 63613) 0
The system measures a ‘tingerprint’ of the motion of a robot, showing characteristics such as velocity, acceleration, overshooting and setting time. Repeatability to a point along a path can be measured to 0.005%, the company claims. 2D data is captured using Selspot position measurement cameras that are manipulated via a VTIOOcompatible terminal. The cameras monitor the movement of LEDs placed on the robot arm. Conversion to 3D is performed in software. The standard system configuration is based on a 68~-based microcomputer with a 20 Mbyte hard disc and 1 Mbyte floppy disc. (Planer Industrial, Windmill Road, Sunbury-on- Thames, Middlesex TWld 7HD, UK. Tel: (0932) cl 786262)
image and vision computing
Vision interface to WE micros A standalone microcomputer interface for industrial vision applications such as dimension gauging and process control, typically in the automotive and steel industries, is available from IPL. The 5000 series interface connects up to four 5000 series line cameras and 8- or 16-bit microprocessors via a parallel data highway. As it is based on a VMEbus structure, expansion of the system is possible, the company says. The interface synchronizes signals and clocks for the cameras and assigns a number to each pixel of each camera array. Each pixel is searched for an edge. If one is found the pixel number-is loaded in a firstin first-out (FIFO) buffer to be input
to a host computer. The 16-bit FIFO
48
elongated blobs; and discrimination parameters, which distinguish different shapes. Forty-five area parameters are calculated either directly by the board set or by software routines on the host system using the board set output as seed data. Resolution of the area processor is 512 x 512, making it viable for applications in robot guidance, production line quality control, sorting and bin picking. (Vision Systems Ltd, Innovation House West, Technology Park, The Levels, Adelaide, SA 509.5, Australia. Tel: (8) 349 5988) 0
Within the time taken for an image to be repIaced on screen by the succeeding image, the board set is able to calculate object recognition parameters for many objects in the scene. Two-dimensional binary images are analysed in the form of connected regions, or ‘blobs’ of the same polarity, indicating background or foreground blobs. Three types of area parameters are calculated for the blobs: location parameters, including the coordinates of the centre of the area and the containing area; orientation parameters, giving the direction of orientation of
VMEbus I
r
“1
Digitizer
m
f
1 APA area parameter processor
MAXbus
machine vision system con~guration showing the role of the AP 512-MX area parameter processor
Robot motion is analysed by 3D methods tree-dimensional measurement and motion analysis techniques are combined in Planer Industrial’s Robot Check II, a turnkey system designed for 3D motion analysis of indust~al robots. number gives the binary edge number, the final four bits holding the number of the camera in which the edge appears. Up to 5 12 edges can be stored in the FIFO. Reset can be used to disable camera inputs when not required. Reset release is synchronized internally with scan start to ensure complete scans are output. Minimum reset timing is 300 us. (Integrated Photomatrix Ltd, The Grove Trading Estate, Dorchester, Dorset DTI ISY, UK. Tel: (0305) 63613) 0
The system measures a ‘tingerprint’ of the motion of a robot, showing characteristics such as velocity, acceleration, overshooting and setting time. Repeatability to a point along a path can be measured to 0.005%, the company claims. 2D data is captured using Selspot position measurement cameras that are manipulated via a VTIOOcompatible terminal. The cameras monitor the movement of LEDs placed on the robot arm. Conversion to 3D is performed in software. The standard system configuration is based on a 68~-based microcomputer with a 20 Mbyte hard disc and 1 Mbyte floppy disc. (Planer Industrial, Windmill Road, Sunbury-on- Thames, Middlesex TWld 7HD, UK. Tel: (0932) cl 786262)
image and vision computing