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.
Vision Solutions from Yaskawa
Yaskawa offers both 2D and 3D solutions to compliment our robot offerings. The majority of applications can be solved with our MotoSight 2D solution utilizing Cognex cameras. More complex solutions, like bin picking, that require information in all three dimensions to not only locate the part but also determine its orientation, our MotoSight 3D BinPick solution can help. Other offerings are also available through our partners.
MotoSight 2D
MotoSight™ 2D is a powerful vision system featuring the Cognex In-Sight® 8000 series cameras, robot calibration routines and a proven tool set that enables users to solve complex vision applications. Ideally suited for general robot guidance, error proofing, part identification, part Inspection and high-speed picking.
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MotoSight 2D with MotoPick
MotoSight™ 2D with MotoPick™ software locates randomly oriented products on a moving conveyor belt. The MotoPick software coordinates the picking responsibilities or the number of robots in the line. Designed for robot guidance in high-speed packaging, cartoning and case packing applications.
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MotoSight 3D BinPick
MotoSight 3D BinPick is an easy-to-use hardware/software solution that utilizes a Canon 3D machine vision system to quickly and easily recognize and pick parts that are randomly placed in bins. 3D CAD matching provides simplified, accurate part registration, even allowing identification of complicated parts.
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Using 2D and 3D Vision for Robotic Guidance
Presented August 20, 2019
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