A key trend is integration of machine vision devices with other devices
An interview of Sameer Gandhi, Managing Director, OMRON Automation India. By Milton D'Silva.
Sameer Gandhi, Managing Director, OMRON Automation India.
What are the most recent developments in machine vision sensors at OMRON?
We have been experimenting with compact form factors for tight spaces, high-speed imaging for fast-moving production lines, high resolutions for detailed inspection and power software platforms that could be fully integrated with not only our controllers and robotics devices but also with third-party devices.
Some of our recent and notable launches in this segment are:
- Industrial Ethernet smart cameras with expanded functionalities
- Smart cameras with world’s first multi-colour light and high-resolution image sensors
- PoE cameras with state-of-the-art CMOS sensors, and
- Fastest and extremely flexible vision systems with industry’s first MDMC light for comprehensive defect detection
What is the range of products available?
OMRON is counted amongst the biggest players in machine vision and industrial barcode scanning across the globe. Also, being amongst the few total/ end-to-end solutions providers, OMRON has a comprehensive machine vision hardware line. It includes industrial cameras, vision systems, and smart and PC-based cameras. All of them are extremely scalable across software platforms.
What are the emerging trends in machine vision applications due to greater adoption of Industry 4.0?
Industry 4.0 envisages a shop floor with intelligent and integrated devices. A key trend here is the integration of machine vision devices – whether quality inspection or bar code reading – with other devices like robots and PLCs. Such integrated devices deliver powerful solutions like traceability, robots with vision for superior and random pick-n-place and alignment, 3D bin picking, etc. To achieve these solutions, integration is the key. That is why Omron with its wide product basked is able to provide standard integrated solutions to meet the industry’s IIoT needs.
How is the impact of Covid-19 likely to shape the trends in machine vision?
The post Covid world has started to shape consumer demands and behaviour. The consumer is more-than-ever conscious and demanding about quality and hygiene. This is likely to put greater demand on the manufacturers to control and enhance quality by ensuring that poor quality product is not shipped and the entire supply and delivery chain is traced via advanced traceability solutions. All this is possible only with machine vision. It’s the key to achieve global standards in quality, consistency and reliability along with hygiene. This reboot and reset triggered by Covid is the right opportunity for the manufacturers to invest in machine vision.
