Article Abstracts | January 2008
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Machine Vision Adapts to Harsh Environments
Ruggedizing the design of imaging equipment enables machine vision to work outside the lab.
by Alexander Moy, Edmund Optics
Exploding beer bottles, tsunamis and flour may not seem to have anything in common, but they are all hazards that machine vision systems can face in field applications. System designs targeting the controlled conditions of a lab expect an ideal working environment, not real-world problems. When a system must be deployed outside the laboratory, less than favorable conditions make the design challenge formidable. Fortunately, there are options for dealing with harsh environments.
Unfavorable environments can vary widely, but generally they involve one or more conditions that can interfere with the performance of — or that even can damage — an imaging system. The most common are extreme temperatures, shock and vibration, and exposure to particulates such as dust and to fluids such as water. Examples abound...
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