Three-dimensional vision is a breakthrough in machine vision

For past robotic systems, selecting and placing objects is a very difficult task because there is no good way to locate them. However, with the development of 3D vision, positioning and picking movements have become easier.

The emergence of three-dimensional vision has promoted the rapid innovation of industrial robots and broadened their application prospects. New visual technologies provide robot systems with the flexibility to enable them to perform functions they have never had before.

Industrial robots themselves are incredibly innovative in manufacturing, but the "blind" versions of robots have their limitations. What is the difference between 3D vision-guided robots and traditional robots?

Robots are used in large numbers to replace dull, repetitive tasks and cut down to liberate the low-end labor force. But because of the lack of visual perception that limits their ability to accomplish more high-end tasks, traditional robots must program to accomplish a single task without the ability to cope with new changes and reprogramming when tasks change.

Flexibility is a key driver for robot ROI, and 3D vision capabilities will enable robots to perform multiple tasks without reprogramming while having unforeseen unexpected situations in the work environment. In addition, 3D vision allows the robot to recognize the object in front of it to some extent and respond accordingly. All of these features increase the flexibility of the robot for faster and better ROI.

Currently, 3D vision technology has many methods in industrial robot applications. One of the most prominent application methods is picking and placing. This is very difficult for traditional robots. The blind version robot can only pick objects from a predetermined position. The system cannot pick a part of the scene.

The three-dimensional vision realized by laser triangulation is one of the most commonly used methods for robot vision in picking and positioning applications. In essence, computer-aided design (CAD) models are taught to robots so that they can identify parts of the space and their orientation. The laser is used by the robot to determine its own spatial position on the X, Y and Z axes. Once the robot knows its own position and the part, it can pick up the part and place it.

Although this seems like a simple task, it is a revolution in the industrial field. It saves the end user time and money. With the simple description of the CAD model, the robot can perform various tasks.

Whether it is from laser triangulation or different methods, 3D vision is the driving force of innovation. The selection and use of robots in the past was very difficult, but now it will be an ordinary operation.