Machine Vision (MV) is a sub-discipline of computer vision that deals with the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of digital images for automatically recognizing and understanding the environment. It is the application of digital image processing techniques and algorithms to interpret, analyze, and act on visual information to identify, locate, and classify objects in an image.
MV is often used in industrial automation and robotics to identify, locate, and track objects, people, or structures in a variety of environments. It is especially useful for applications with a degree of complexity or variation that cannot be handled effectively by traditional algorithms or sensors.
Common applications for MV include robotic vision, inspection and sorting of parts, facial recognition, assembly inspection, object recognition, and navigation. Other applications include medical imaging, video surveillance, and surveillance and security applications.
MV is a rapidly growing field with many commercial products now available. Many factors contribute to the development of existing and future solutions: open source software libraries, hardware platforms, and increasing computational power.
MV systems generally consist of a sensor (typically a digital camera or an array of cameras), a processor (usually a PC or embedded device), and an output stage (typically a robotic arm or a machine tool). The sensor captures an image of the scene, which is then transmitted to the processor for interpretation and action.
MV has several advantages over traditional vision systems, including speed, accuracy, reliability, and flexibility. Since machines are able to detect objects more quickly and reliably than humans, MV can be used for much faster production lines, as well as for more accurate categorization of objects. Additionally, the flexibility of MV means that it can be used for a variety of applications, such as identifying objects that are difficult to differentiate. Finally, MV is often much more cost effective than traditional methods for a given application.
