Vision technology has become a critical component for many robot applications, enabling robots to be deployed for new applications. Over the years the technology has matured, with higher performance and lower pricing. In the process, vision has become accepted and embraced by many companies who see the value it brings to their operations; value in the form of:
Yaskawa Motoman has partnered with the industry leaders in vision technology. This allows us to deliver the very best integrated solutions to our customers. Learn how our robotic vision systems can be applied in your operations today.
While giving robots eyes doesn’t make them self-aware, it does enable them to perform operations in ways that dramatically improve their performance. For example, robots guided by vision can locate parts to be picked up, determine where to apply a weld, inspect parts that have been assembled or determine where to place a part. The possibilities are endless.
Vision Guided Robotics
What is Vision Guided Robotics and why is it needed?
Vision Guided Robotics (VGR) encompasses all the technologies required to process and handle visual data and objects. This includes all the hardware, software, cameras, lenses and lighting required to capture and process images. The result of this process is reference points for accurately locating and picking an object (X-Y-Z coordinates).
Vision is required for robotics to allow them to more efficiently and quickly function in an unpredictable environment. As we all know, robots work great when everything is consistent. We program them to always pick and place a part in the same location. But what happens when something changes, or the location or orientation of the object varies? The robot cannot pick the object as originally programmed. Guidance is needed when this occurs, and vision helps to accurately locate the object and tell the robot where it is located.
Types of Vision Systems
The two most common solutions for VGR are 2D and 3D systems, and Yaskawa offers solutions using these technologies.
2D solutions provide X, Y and Rz (Angle) coordinates for locating an object. This works when the data is in the same plane, there is no Z or Tilt (Rx, Ry) information required, and the working distance from the camera and the object is constant.
3D solutions extend the capability of vision to accommodate more randomness. These solutions provide the X, Y, Z, Rx, Ry and Rz coordinates to locate objects in different planes. This allows for the object to be tilted, and the working distance from the camera to the object can change.
When do you use 2D versus 3D?
It’s all about the location and organization of the objects. If everything is very structured, and objects are positioned in a stacked or organized pattern, then 2D is the easy answer. When objects are totally randomized in position and orientation (dumped in a bin), even overlapping, then 3D is required to locate and determine the orientation. If the problem is somewhere in between, with some level of organization, either solution might work depending on the application.
The right answer is always, it depends on the application. Contact a sales representative to help find the right vision solution for you.
Powerful Vision Solutions from Yaskawa
Experience fast and reliable Vision Guided Robotics (VGR) with Yaskawa’s 2D and 3D integrated vision systems. Using industrial-grade Cognex In-Sight® cameras, most applications can be solved with MotoSight™ 2D. More complex applications, such as bin picking, which require information in all three dimensions to accurately locate objects, may benefit from Yaskawa’s MotoSight 3D BinPick solution. Other high-speed and easy-to-use robotic vision options are also available through our trusted technology partners.
MotoSight 2D
Featuring ultra-compact Cognex In-Sight 8000 series cameras, MotoSight 2D is a powerful high-speed solution that easily adds vision capability to a range of robotic tasks. Ideally suited for general robot guidance, error proofing, part identification, part inspection and high-speed picking, this easy-to-integrate hardware/software solution provides robot calibration routines and a proven tool set to help users overcome challenging applications.
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MotoSight 3D BinPick
Utilizing a high-performance Canon camera with integrated lighting, MotoSight 3D BinPick is a robust hardware/software solution that quickly and easily recognizes objects that are randomly placed in bins. Single-step recognition reduces the need for multiple cameras, while 3D CAD matching provides simplified, accurate object registration, allowing identification of complex objects without the need to train multiple images. Robust collision checking ensures the end-of-arm tool (EOAT) does not collide with the bin or other objects.
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Using 2D and 3D Vision for Robotic Guidance
Presented August 20, 2019
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