Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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Sample Prayer For Programs
Lights, Motor, LabVIEW - Here is the Smart Camera from National Instruments
Lights, Motor, LabVIEW -
is the Smart Camera from National Instruments
is the Smart Camera from National Instruments
Marco QUAIL
Visit any modern manufacturing facility and you will discover a reality now widespread: the embedded programmable platforms have become widely used for a variety of measures.
These programs are available in embedded devices such as various types of embedded data loggers, SCADA systems, PAC (programmable automation controller) and motor drives intelligent. Just as Ethernet has provided a common hardware interface for connecting these disposiviti, the LabVIEW graphical development environment from National Instruments has provided a common software interface to program them.
In addition to the ever growing list of embedded industrial devices to program with LabVIEW, National Instruments introduces the first family of smart cameras. These smart cameras are ideally suited for machine vision applications such as packaging inspection, assembly and testing of reading 1D and 2D. The National Instruments Smart Cameras use the same driver software and NI-IMAQ Vision Development Module used with PC-based systems, simplifying the transition from planning stages to the final distrubution.
NI Smart Camera
A typical industrial camera captures and transmits images via a standard bus such as Camera Link or IEEE 1394 to a host PC or to a system that processes images to extract relevant information. The Smart Camera from National Instruments simplify this process by analyzing the images directly on the camera, thanks to a PowerPC processor running LabVIEW Real-Time and the entire suite of NI vision algorithms. The first model of the family, the 1722 Smart Camera features a PowerPC 400 MHz, while the second camera, the 1742 Smart House, you have a PowerPC 533-MHz optical sensor inside the two smart camera is a CCD (charge-coupled device) of high quality, capable of capturing monochrome images at VGA resolution (640 x 480) at 60 frames per second. The CCD sensor produces sharp images, improving the accuracy of algorithms such as ones for identifying edges and pattern-matching. The combination of the PowerPC processor with the CCD image sensor, both controlled by LabVIEW, provides an integrated vision system, easily deployable, able to directly transmit the results of inspections instead of raw images.
To communicate the results to other industrial devices, the Smart Camera from National Instruments have I / O integrated digital and are compatible with industrial protocols based on both serial and Ethernet, such as Modbus TCP. The lines of digital I / O present on the NI Smart Cameras are optically isolated to allow direct connectivity to industrial devices such as trigger and actuators. To facilitate communication based on Ethernet, Smart Cameras are equipped with two gigabit Ethernet ports. You can connect a port to an industrial network to make the report of inspection results and put the other port in communication with the CAP devices, such as CompactRIO and Compact FieldPoint to expand the I / O available, or with industrial devices type PLC (programmable logic controller) or interfaces Human machine interface (HMI).
Additional advantages of the NI 1742 Smart Camera
addition to a more powerful processor, the smart camera 1742 includes quadrature encoder support and an integrated drive controller and a strobe to illuminate the LEDs. With quadrature encoder support, the 1742 Smart Camera is able to synchronize inspections with linear and rotary drive systems. This feature simplifies the timing in complex applications where consistency is critical to the success of the system.
To illuminate objects directly under the room, the 1742 Smart Camera also has NI direct drive lighting technology. In most vision systems, lighting is typically controlled by a controller
LED strobe outside. In this scenario, the trigger signals are sent to the controller to communicate to the head light switch on when and how. The strobe controller can be expensive add-ons for machine vision applications. To lower costs and simplify the connections, the 1742 Smart Camera has a built-in lighting controller that allows you to control lights directly from the chamber. The integrated controller is capable of delivering both a DC current of 500 mA constant current and a strobe up to 1 A. The strobe light is designed to increase the intensity up to four times without damaging the head lighting.
unparalleled scalability
All Smart Camera from National Instruments software including the Vision Builder for Automated Inspection (AI). Vision Builder AI is a development environment for configurable machine vision applications, used to build and deploy complete machine vision applications easily and quickly. Vision Builder AI applications are based on a model state diagrams easy to use. This model allows you to configure sophisticated inspection capabilities, including looping and branching without programming bisongo. Vision Builder AI also includes all the features necessary for developing industrial vision systems Full: advanced triggering, data acquisition devices, communication with HMI and PLC, and control lines of digital I / O.
For more advanced applications, NI Smart Cameras can be used as LabVIEW Real-Time to bring on this new platform is also the power of algorithms and the LabVIEW Vision Development Module. The cameras are compatible with other modules that are supported by LabVIEW Real-Time, as the LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module. The range of hardware platforms
NI vision ranges from PC-based systems to systems based on PXI and PCI, up to compact vision systems, which now include the new sensor with the NI Smart Camera. The full range of products is compatible with both LabVIEW Vision Builder AI. This allows you to design and prototype their own machine vision algorithms using a camera connected to a commercial frame grabber NI and deploy the same application on a Smart Camera from National Instruments LabVIEW by making minimal changes to the code or inspection created with Vision Builder AI.
The rest of the image
vision systems normally involve more I / O and allow you to properly manage the data network to exchange data with other industrial devices. Smart Cameras are designed for tight integration with the PAC and HMI devices from National Instruments. This simplifies the expansion applications based on platforms made with NI PAC, with the addition of vision technology. In fact, a single project can contain the LabVIEW VI inspection smart cameras along with the code for motion control, data acquisition and user interface. Every aspect of data exchange can be handled with shared variables, simplifying the task of transferring data between different components of the system.
To complete the range of smart cameras, National Instruments offers a wide selection of accessories for machine vision, to build systems in a simple step instead of building custom components. National Instruments now offers directly lenses, lights, mounting brackets, cables and many other components. This simplifies the search of all the components required in machine vision applications.
Solutions All-in-One
NI Smart Cameras provide an all-in-one for a variety of machine vision applications. By combining an optical quality and a processor 32-bit high-performance NI Smart Cameras are a powerful and innovative solutions for the realization of complete machine vision. With the power of shared variables over Ethernet, the integration of machine vision systems in existing and new has never been so easy.
The combination of the PowerPC processor with the CCD image sensor, both managed by LabVIEW, implements a vision system all-in-one, easily deployable, able to transmit the results of the inspection, instead of raw images.
Marco QUAIL
and Motion Vision System Engineer National Instruments Italy
Visit any modern manufacturing facility and you will discover a reality now widespread: the embedded programmable platforms have become widely used for a variety of measures.
These programs are available in embedded devices such as various types of embedded data loggers, SCADA systems, PAC (programmable automation controller) and motor drives intelligent. Just as Ethernet has provided a common hardware interface for connecting these disposiviti, the LabVIEW graphical development environment from National Instruments has provided a common software interface to program them.
In addition to the ever growing list of embedded industrial devices to program with LabVIEW, National Instruments introduces the first family of smart cameras. These smart cameras are ideally suited for machine vision applications such as packaging inspection, assembly and testing of reading 1D and 2D. The National Instruments Smart Cameras use the same driver software and NI-IMAQ Vision Development Module used with PC-based systems, simplifying the transition from planning stages to the final distrubution.
NI Smart Camera
A typical industrial camera captures and transmits images via a standard bus such as Camera Link or IEEE 1394 to a host PC or to a system that processes images to extract relevant information. The Smart Camera from National Instruments simplify this process by analyzing the images directly on the camera, thanks to a PowerPC processor running LabVIEW Real-Time and the entire suite of NI vision algorithms. The first model of the family, the 1722 Smart Camera features a PowerPC 400 MHz, while the second camera, the 1742 Smart House, you have a PowerPC 533-MHz optical sensor inside the two smart camera is a CCD (charge-coupled device) of high quality, capable of capturing monochrome images at VGA resolution (640 x 480) at 60 frames per second. The CCD sensor produces sharp images, improving the accuracy of algorithms such as ones for identifying edges and pattern-matching. The combination of the PowerPC processor with the CCD image sensor, both controlled by LabVIEW, provides an integrated vision system, easily deployable, able to directly transmit the results of inspections instead of raw images.
To communicate the results to other industrial devices, the Smart Camera from National Instruments have I / O integrated digital and are compatible with industrial protocols based on both serial and Ethernet, such as Modbus TCP. The lines of digital I / O present on the NI Smart Cameras are optically isolated to allow direct connectivity to industrial devices such as trigger and actuators. To facilitate communication based on Ethernet, Smart Cameras are equipped with two gigabit Ethernet ports. You can connect a port to an industrial network to make the report of inspection results and put the other port in communication with the CAP devices, such as CompactRIO and Compact FieldPoint to expand the I / O available, or with industrial devices type PLC (programmable logic controller) or interfaces Human machine interface (HMI).
Additional advantages of the NI 1742 Smart Camera
addition to a more powerful processor, the smart camera 1742 includes quadrature encoder support and an integrated drive controller and a strobe to illuminate the LEDs. With quadrature encoder support, the 1742 Smart Camera is able to synchronize inspections with linear and rotary drive systems. This feature simplifies the timing in complex applications where consistency is critical to the success of the system.
To illuminate objects directly under the room, the 1742 Smart Camera also has NI direct drive lighting technology. In most vision systems, lighting is typically controlled by a controller
LED strobe outside. In this scenario, the trigger signals are sent to the controller to communicate to the head light switch on when and how. The strobe controller can be expensive add-ons for machine vision applications. To lower costs and simplify the connections, the 1742 Smart Camera has a built-in lighting controller that allows you to control lights directly from the chamber. The integrated controller is capable of delivering both a DC current of 500 mA constant current and a strobe up to 1 A. The strobe light is designed to increase the intensity up to four times without damaging the head lighting.
unparalleled scalability
All Smart Camera from National Instruments software including the Vision Builder for Automated Inspection (AI). Vision Builder AI is a development environment for configurable machine vision applications, used to build and deploy complete machine vision applications easily and quickly. Vision Builder AI applications are based on a model state diagrams easy to use. This model allows you to configure sophisticated inspection capabilities, including looping and branching without programming bisongo. Vision Builder AI also includes all the features necessary for developing industrial vision systems Full: advanced triggering, data acquisition devices, communication with HMI and PLC, and control lines of digital I / O.
For more advanced applications, NI Smart Cameras can be used as LabVIEW Real-Time to bring on this new platform is also the power of algorithms and the LabVIEW Vision Development Module. The cameras are compatible with other modules that are supported by LabVIEW Real-Time, as the LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module. The range of hardware platforms
NI vision ranges from PC-based systems to systems based on PXI and PCI, up to compact vision systems, which now include the new sensor with the NI Smart Camera. The full range of products is compatible with both LabVIEW Vision Builder AI. This allows you to design and prototype their own machine vision algorithms using a camera connected to a commercial frame grabber NI and deploy the same application on a Smart Camera from National Instruments LabVIEW by making minimal changes to the code or inspection created with Vision Builder AI.
The rest of the image
vision systems normally involve more I / O and allow you to properly manage the data network to exchange data with other industrial devices. Smart Cameras are designed for tight integration with the PAC and HMI devices from National Instruments. This simplifies the expansion applications based on platforms made with NI PAC, with the addition of vision technology. In fact, a single project can contain the LabVIEW VI inspection smart cameras along with the code for motion control, data acquisition and user interface. Every aspect of data exchange can be handled with shared variables, simplifying the task of transferring data between different components of the system.
To complete the range of smart cameras, National Instruments offers a wide selection of accessories for machine vision, to build systems in a simple step instead of building custom components. National Instruments now offers directly lenses, lights, mounting brackets, cables and many other components. This simplifies the search of all the components required in machine vision applications.
Solutions All-in-One
NI Smart Cameras provide an all-in-one for a variety of machine vision applications. By combining an optical quality and a processor 32-bit high-performance NI Smart Cameras are a powerful and innovative solutions for the realization of complete machine vision. With the power of shared variables over Ethernet, the integration of machine vision systems in existing and new has never been so easy.
The combination of the PowerPC processor with the CCD image sensor, both managed by LabVIEW, implements a vision system all-in-one, easily deployable, able to transmit the results of the inspection, instead of raw images.
Marco QUAIL
and Motion Vision System Engineer National Instruments Italy
Wedding Cards Wording Valima Pakistan
LabVIEW on a camera - Smart Camera
Read this doc on Scribd: LabVIEW on a camera - Introduction to Smart Camera from National Instruments
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Wagon R Campernew 2010
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We trust the Vision
Industrial Automation November 2006
Scenarios
Scenarios
We trust the vision
The initial difficulties that faces a user to set a draft vision and doubts, a After starting the project, there are to undermine the certainty of a successful sistemadi vision: how to find out if the software strategy is correct and if the design is costing the price right?
of Marco Quaglia
is now consolidated the common view that the vision has benefited from technological development occurred at least in the last five years. If an immediate past solutions from the view were to apply only in certain sectors and technologies were seen as "sensitive" and futuristic, a little rugged or difficult to implement in industrial field - remember, for example, a system of guide stars for a telescope installed in Mexico and in medical applications for the analysis of cells under a microscope - in this users tend to give them more confidence, encouraged by the results obtained on the ground in harsh environment typically considered inaccessible.
During this period of transition and acceptance, which still is evolving without saving surprises have several contributory factors played a crucial role: without doubt the market presence of electronic media and programming tools much more powerful, fast and reliable, but also a culture and a knowledge of the sector more iron from the users, being able to understand the means and capabilities provided by the vision,
able to better evaluate the products and insight into the purpose and possible implementations. Culture and greater understanding by the professionals, explained in a generational and cultural change and a focused ability to make information from suppliers, has issued a general sense of confidence in this sector was missing before. Often the vision is proposed as a viable alternative solutions to well-established (sensors and PLC), but the inability to understand the background and various aspects boundary scare the end user, with the vision, he found himself having to become a time limited to cameras and framegrabber an expert, but also lighting, mechanics, optics, algorithms "strange" for the image processing and all that typically is used to realize a complete vision system, questioning what worked so now Consolidated years ...
In fact, this situation would frighten anyone. In reality, what has happened and still happens then is the repetition of past history "already seen": the market requires timing and competitive prices, and with a "blow to the rim and a barrel," it goes on, vendors release software tools now extremely easy to use for advanced hardware as RealTime and FPGA platforms, however, impossible to use a low level. A "normal" user, with a very minimal effort, can change the working methods, to re-engineer systems based on innovative technologies and slowly gain confidence in environments and technologies that the only way in terror, in particular, finds that in this passage for change is not only supported by new figures, but expert born with with new technology: more and more often, suppliers are in engineering or surround system integrators specializing in the field of vision, to offer a valid support and maintenance of departure the work of the customer.
If you look at the situation from the user's perspective born of applications related to initial difficulties in dealing with the problem whose solution lies in vision: as a minimum system consists of vision? What components are used to address the specific problem? How much time and money is allowed to spend for the solution? What features or software in general can be used to dissect the problem and find the information you want from the image captured? Once the project, there are other doubts that undermine confidence in the success of a vision system: you are following the proper software strategy? We have designed the system so that correct? The prototype is costing the price right? To circumvent these and other billions of queries, the most appropriate method is not to study entire encyclopedias or essays in the field "Vision", since the risk is to spend time in solving the problems of vision and not related to the specific needs , which is the ultimate goal of the system to the limit, we can assist you with the powerful medium of the Internet to find examples of similar applications and get ideas from those, but much more effective method is to rely on easy access to media hardware and software toolkit for immediate understanding and interchangeability.
Annoying is to discover, after weeks of in-depth hardware and lines of code written, that it completely wrong strategy, because they misinterpreted the specifications for supported hardware and software you are using! In this case, unfortunately, the solution is to start over, or reconstructing what has been done resulting in the inevitable rise of the times and project costs. Sure, you can always make use of external advice and specific, but not in the long run pays off in terms of maintenance or, may be based on custom hardware or applications closed, but when it comes to update or migrate to systems other than the natives, then "a pain" both technical and economic.
In this context, the ideal architecture is represented by a hardware and software that you may have in hand the knowledge and then be able to use it easily, with limited initial efforts, that is switched to more standard platforms such as Windows, or Real-Time FPGA without changing the programming tools and, finally, that the prototype is immediate and simple in order to "make and unmake", with just a few mouse clicks, and again, where the maintenance and updating are not "a bloodbath".
A reality that is closer to the ideal described solutions can be found in National Instruments, where a vision system, designed to support hardware and software, is composed of a platform that you can realize in a PC Windows-based systems or stand-alone operating system based on Real-Time, or FPGA, to be chosen according to performance and of course to 'reliability, in addition to determinism, research and programming toolkit that puts the user can program the whole system in as openly as possible, introducing features that go beyond the single image analysis, or facilitate the preliminary study and prototyping using environment where configuration, with simple and immediate "evidence" on the functions applied to images, the user can understand, from the immediate feedback, and how to proceed if the road is following is yielding the expected results. All hardware support (Framegrabber, FireWire or PC in the Compact Vision System in Real-Time System) software have the same common denominator: this means that a single software package identified and used by the user (LabVIEW or Vision Builder AI) can handle Windows systems and programming, and PC-based, Real-Time and FPGA alike, extending the choice of software a choice business and general purpose. LabVIEW, with the addition of a specific library for image processing (Vision Module) allows the user to tackle any problem in computer vision. Within the library, as well as examples of applications resolved, they are also made available to specific functions for reading and interpreting bar codes or reading the LCD display or seven segments, as well as functional interpretation Ocr pattern recognition and morphologies. With LabVIEW remains alive the concept of integration between different disciplines in the sense that inside the can, by adopting specific libraries, addressing problems of vision, but also handling axes, rather than data acquisition, for example, temperature sensors, force or more. More oriented to immediate prototyping and testing is Vision Builder AI, which is not programming but configuration of the functions of vision to immediately verify the effectiveness or not.
remains constant, the concept of portability of software on various platforms: Windows PC-based or Real-Time and FPGA device with the CVS (Compact Vision System), which comes in three different versions for computing power and memory, for which the specifications shall be provided in full on www.ni.com / vision.
All eyes the right partner
To accommodate those who want to develop systems and build applications, perhaps in a limited time, without the specialized internal resources, or want specific advice in the field of vision, National Instruments for years is supported by partner companies with experience systems integration and development of applications based on NI technologies in specific industries. Who are these partners, such as special projects are following and how they have approached the Alliance Member Program, the certification path for National Instruments, I can tell after meeting two of them, particularly on the segment of active computer vision, ImagingLab and Side.
ImagingLab National Instruments has partnered with since its inception, which dates back to 2004.
should be remembered that there is a historical relationship between National Instruments and ImagingLab. Ignazio Piacentini, who now directs ImagingLab, took part in the negotiations between France and Graftek National Instruments Corporate, which led to the August 1996 sale of software libraries ConceptVi. It is from this sale that starts the line of National Instruments products for vision. Ignazio Piacentini was Business Development Manager Europe as an official National Instruments vision products from 1999 to 2003, in direct contact with National Instruments Corporate. It is
during these years that you create an internal structure in Milan at National Instruments as Ima-gingLab and is in agreement with National Instruments ImagingLab that has kept this name. "ImagingLab is essentially an engineering company," says Ignazio Piacentini. "The partnership with National Instruments exposes us to their network of sales and marketing, with clear benefits for both structures. On the other hand is a more technical help maintain close contact in order to better follow the trends and demands of a rapidly evolving market. " What is the best way to deal with these demands in a dynamic market? "ImagingLab," says Piacentini, "is, at least until now, the only National Instruments Alliance Member, which deals only with vision and robotics in industry, in contrast to other partners who, although qualified, have objectives covering the whole field of automation. This focus on investment activity and allows ImagingLab better and faster to meet customer needs. The needs of clients often begin with questions like 'can you do?' and 'how much?'. Often the third question is 'what do I learn to use a vision system?'. The answers to these questions arise in our laboratory, often with feasibility studies, to then be translated in machines and systems. In the implementation phase ImagingLab works with you if that capacity in-house or relies on partnerships with companies further integration is required if a turnkey system. The tools, especially software, National Instruments, have a key role on our responsiveness to customers and the containment of overall costs, a benefit that our customers appreciate. " All projects undertaken by ImagingLab have used hardware and software libraries from National Instruments. ImagingLab has completed about 25 projects / feasibility studies in about two and a half years of activity. Piacentini cites as particularly significant: a integrated vision and robotics for inspection on-line tires (Pirelli Tires, with an agreement NDA), an integrated vision and robotics for automatic testing of DIMM EEMS produced at Rieti, where the robotic and vision have been designed by ImagingLab, while the machine was produced in collaboration with the company Geas. Luigi Tremolada, System Engineer of Side, with fifteen years of experience in developing systems within two years certificate LabVIEW and LabVIEW Architect, the highest certification in this area, said instead of Side is a partner of National Instruments in 1990, right from the first months' of the Italian subsidiary of National Instruments. It was a choice of collaboration derived from a mutual respect that exists between the then leaders of the two companies and the desire to Side able to refer to a hardware and software already then appeared as the most innovative element in the landscape of data acquisition and measure. The structure essentially
technique Sidea guaranteed equally to National Instruments Italy qualified by a reference to assist users to integrate their products into solutions of increasing complexity and functionality, with particular reference to the embedded real-time, with strong expertise in the field of FPGA-based components and vision.
To understand the continuing interest to the world of vision, which has always been a must for side, you have to trace the origins of this company, associated with a strong presence in universities and scientific research, where issues of vision field of study and application found to have ' early nineties. "The ability to integrate within the proposal Side view of test and measurement systems, but also the possibility to extend the LabVIEW environment to image management," said Luigi Tremolada, "made us familiar with the programming libraries ConceptVi, which were the basis on which it has developed the architecture of National Instruments vision software. The thorough knowledge of these libraries, in advance of about two years of the entry directly from National Instruments in the world of vision, has given us an excellent opportunity to characterize in the market. "
A market, that of vision, which according Tremolada, in Italy, "enjoys broad prospects for growth and where it is necessary to undertake detailed work and serious training in order to understand how the vision can be the solution to many problems if it is addressed and developed the utmost seriousness. " The intervention of Side, in this sense, is characterized in wanting to be a reference point for either party in any matter that he faces to assess whether and how a vision system can solve its problems. There are two solutions that
Tremolada cites as an example to show all the potential synergy between the platform and NI activities Side. "The first case was referred to a system designed to the world of final inspection, where you can perform measurements of acceptance for each system using three cameras that are capable of performing about 200 tests per second. The base of development has been the CVS system from National Instruments, an embedded can be configured, not programmed by the end user with simple text file and can be up and running quickly. The second is consists of a system of high-speed imaging (up to more than 30,000 frames per second) in order to solve problems of analysis of the behavior of moving parts (special mechanical design of machines), flames, factors in rupture, etc. where the basis of the analysis time is less than millisecond. The system operates using the most advanced card framegrabber now available on PCI-Express bus, the PCIe-142 9 NI ".
Marco Quaglia,
Vision and Motion System Engineer National Instruments Italy
The initial difficulties that faces a user to set a draft vision and doubts, a After starting the project, there are to undermine the certainty of a successful sistemadi vision: how to find out if the software strategy is correct and if the design is costing the price right?
of Marco Quaglia
is now consolidated the common view that the vision has benefited from technological development occurred at least in the last five years. If an immediate past solutions from the view were to apply only in certain sectors and technologies were seen as "sensitive" and futuristic, a little rugged or difficult to implement in industrial field - remember, for example, a system of guide stars for a telescope installed in Mexico and in medical applications for the analysis of cells under a microscope - in this users tend to give them more confidence, encouraged by the results obtained on the ground in harsh environment typically considered inaccessible.
During this period of transition and acceptance, which still is evolving without saving surprises have several contributory factors played a crucial role: without doubt the market presence of electronic media and programming tools much more powerful, fast and reliable, but also a culture and a knowledge of the sector more iron from the users, being able to understand the means and capabilities provided by the vision,
able to better evaluate the products and insight into the purpose and possible implementations. Culture and greater understanding by the professionals, explained in a generational and cultural change and a focused ability to make information from suppliers, has issued a general sense of confidence in this sector was missing before. Often the vision is proposed as a viable alternative solutions to well-established (sensors and PLC), but the inability to understand the background and various aspects boundary scare the end user, with the vision, he found himself having to become a time limited to cameras and framegrabber an expert, but also lighting, mechanics, optics, algorithms "strange" for the image processing and all that typically is used to realize a complete vision system, questioning what worked so now Consolidated years ...
In fact, this situation would frighten anyone. In reality, what has happened and still happens then is the repetition of past history "already seen": the market requires timing and competitive prices, and with a "blow to the rim and a barrel," it goes on, vendors release software tools now extremely easy to use for advanced hardware as RealTime and FPGA platforms, however, impossible to use a low level. A "normal" user, with a very minimal effort, can change the working methods, to re-engineer systems based on innovative technologies and slowly gain confidence in environments and technologies that the only way in terror, in particular, finds that in this passage for change is not only supported by new figures, but expert born with with new technology: more and more often, suppliers are in engineering or surround system integrators specializing in the field of vision, to offer a valid support and maintenance of departure the work of the customer.
If you look at the situation from the user's perspective born of applications related to initial difficulties in dealing with the problem whose solution lies in vision: as a minimum system consists of vision? What components are used to address the specific problem? How much time and money is allowed to spend for the solution? What features or software in general can be used to dissect the problem and find the information you want from the image captured? Once the project, there are other doubts that undermine confidence in the success of a vision system: you are following the proper software strategy? We have designed the system so that correct? The prototype is costing the price right? To circumvent these and other billions of queries, the most appropriate method is not to study entire encyclopedias or essays in the field "Vision", since the risk is to spend time in solving the problems of vision and not related to the specific needs , which is the ultimate goal of the system to the limit, we can assist you with the powerful medium of the Internet to find examples of similar applications and get ideas from those, but much more effective method is to rely on easy access to media hardware and software toolkit for immediate understanding and interchangeability.
Annoying is to discover, after weeks of in-depth hardware and lines of code written, that it completely wrong strategy, because they misinterpreted the specifications for supported hardware and software you are using! In this case, unfortunately, the solution is to start over, or reconstructing what has been done resulting in the inevitable rise of the times and project costs. Sure, you can always make use of external advice and specific, but not in the long run pays off in terms of maintenance or, may be based on custom hardware or applications closed, but when it comes to update or migrate to systems other than the natives, then "a pain" both technical and economic.
In this context, the ideal architecture is represented by a hardware and software that you may have in hand the knowledge and then be able to use it easily, with limited initial efforts, that is switched to more standard platforms such as Windows, or Real-Time FPGA without changing the programming tools and, finally, that the prototype is immediate and simple in order to "make and unmake", with just a few mouse clicks, and again, where the maintenance and updating are not "a bloodbath".
A reality that is closer to the ideal described solutions can be found in National Instruments, where a vision system, designed to support hardware and software, is composed of a platform that you can realize in a PC Windows-based systems or stand-alone operating system based on Real-Time, or FPGA, to be chosen according to performance and of course to 'reliability, in addition to determinism, research and programming toolkit that puts the user can program the whole system in as openly as possible, introducing features that go beyond the single image analysis, or facilitate the preliminary study and prototyping using environment where configuration, with simple and immediate "evidence" on the functions applied to images, the user can understand, from the immediate feedback, and how to proceed if the road is following is yielding the expected results. All hardware support (Framegrabber, FireWire or PC in the Compact Vision System in Real-Time System) software have the same common denominator: this means that a single software package identified and used by the user (LabVIEW or Vision Builder AI) can handle Windows systems and programming, and PC-based, Real-Time and FPGA alike, extending the choice of software a choice business and general purpose. LabVIEW, with the addition of a specific library for image processing (Vision Module) allows the user to tackle any problem in computer vision. Within the library, as well as examples of applications resolved, they are also made available to specific functions for reading and interpreting bar codes or reading the LCD display or seven segments, as well as functional interpretation Ocr pattern recognition and morphologies. With LabVIEW remains alive the concept of integration between different disciplines in the sense that inside the can, by adopting specific libraries, addressing problems of vision, but also handling axes, rather than data acquisition, for example, temperature sensors, force or more. More oriented to immediate prototyping and testing is Vision Builder AI, which is not programming but configuration of the functions of vision to immediately verify the effectiveness or not.
remains constant, the concept of portability of software on various platforms: Windows PC-based or Real-Time and FPGA device with the CVS (Compact Vision System), which comes in three different versions for computing power and memory, for which the specifications shall be provided in full on www.ni.com / vision.
All eyes the right partner
To accommodate those who want to develop systems and build applications, perhaps in a limited time, without the specialized internal resources, or want specific advice in the field of vision, National Instruments for years is supported by partner companies with experience systems integration and development of applications based on NI technologies in specific industries. Who are these partners, such as special projects are following and how they have approached the Alliance Member Program, the certification path for National Instruments, I can tell after meeting two of them, particularly on the segment of active computer vision, ImagingLab and Side.
ImagingLab National Instruments has partnered with since its inception, which dates back to 2004.
should be remembered that there is a historical relationship between National Instruments and ImagingLab. Ignazio Piacentini, who now directs ImagingLab, took part in the negotiations between France and Graftek National Instruments Corporate, which led to the August 1996 sale of software libraries ConceptVi. It is from this sale that starts the line of National Instruments products for vision. Ignazio Piacentini was Business Development Manager Europe as an official National Instruments vision products from 1999 to 2003, in direct contact with National Instruments Corporate. It is
during these years that you create an internal structure in Milan at National Instruments as Ima-gingLab and is in agreement with National Instruments ImagingLab that has kept this name. "ImagingLab is essentially an engineering company," says Ignazio Piacentini. "The partnership with National Instruments exposes us to their network of sales and marketing, with clear benefits for both structures. On the other hand is a more technical help maintain close contact in order to better follow the trends and demands of a rapidly evolving market. " What is the best way to deal with these demands in a dynamic market? "ImagingLab," says Piacentini, "is, at least until now, the only National Instruments Alliance Member, which deals only with vision and robotics in industry, in contrast to other partners who, although qualified, have objectives covering the whole field of automation. This focus on investment activity and allows ImagingLab better and faster to meet customer needs. The needs of clients often begin with questions like 'can you do?' and 'how much?'. Often the third question is 'what do I learn to use a vision system?'. The answers to these questions arise in our laboratory, often with feasibility studies, to then be translated in machines and systems. In the implementation phase ImagingLab works with you if that capacity in-house or relies on partnerships with companies further integration is required if a turnkey system. The tools, especially software, National Instruments, have a key role on our responsiveness to customers and the containment of overall costs, a benefit that our customers appreciate. " All projects undertaken by ImagingLab have used hardware and software libraries from National Instruments. ImagingLab has completed about 25 projects / feasibility studies in about two and a half years of activity. Piacentini cites as particularly significant: a integrated vision and robotics for inspection on-line tires (Pirelli Tires, with an agreement NDA), an integrated vision and robotics for automatic testing of DIMM EEMS produced at Rieti, where the robotic and vision have been designed by ImagingLab, while the machine was produced in collaboration with the company Geas. Luigi Tremolada, System Engineer of Side, with fifteen years of experience in developing systems within two years certificate LabVIEW and LabVIEW Architect, the highest certification in this area, said instead of Side is a partner of National Instruments in 1990, right from the first months' of the Italian subsidiary of National Instruments. It was a choice of collaboration derived from a mutual respect that exists between the then leaders of the two companies and the desire to Side able to refer to a hardware and software already then appeared as the most innovative element in the landscape of data acquisition and measure. The structure essentially
technique Sidea guaranteed equally to National Instruments Italy qualified by a reference to assist users to integrate their products into solutions of increasing complexity and functionality, with particular reference to the embedded real-time, with strong expertise in the field of FPGA-based components and vision.
To understand the continuing interest to the world of vision, which has always been a must for side, you have to trace the origins of this company, associated with a strong presence in universities and scientific research, where issues of vision field of study and application found to have ' early nineties. "The ability to integrate within the proposal Side view of test and measurement systems, but also the possibility to extend the LabVIEW environment to image management," said Luigi Tremolada, "made us familiar with the programming libraries ConceptVi, which were the basis on which it has developed the architecture of National Instruments vision software. The thorough knowledge of these libraries, in advance of about two years of the entry directly from National Instruments in the world of vision, has given us an excellent opportunity to characterize in the market. "
A market, that of vision, which according Tremolada, in Italy, "enjoys broad prospects for growth and where it is necessary to undertake detailed work and serious training in order to understand how the vision can be the solution to many problems if it is addressed and developed the utmost seriousness. " The intervention of Side, in this sense, is characterized in wanting to be a reference point for either party in any matter that he faces to assess whether and how a vision system can solve its problems. There are two solutions that
Tremolada cites as an example to show all the potential synergy between the platform and NI activities Side. "The first case was referred to a system designed to the world of final inspection, where you can perform measurements of acceptance for each system using three cameras that are capable of performing about 200 tests per second. The base of development has been the CVS system from National Instruments, an embedded can be configured, not programmed by the end user with simple text file and can be up and running quickly. The second is consists of a system of high-speed imaging (up to more than 30,000 frames per second) in order to solve problems of analysis of the behavior of moving parts (special mechanical design of machines), flames, factors in rupture, etc. where the basis of the analysis time is less than millisecond. The system operates using the most advanced card framegrabber now available on PCI-Express bus, the PCIe-142 9 NI ".
Marco Quaglia,
Vision and Motion System Engineer National Instruments Italy
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