Next-generation machine vision systems

Citation

(1998), "Next-generation machine vision systems", Sensor Review, Vol. 18 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.1998.08718cad.001

Next-generation machine vision systems

Next-generation machine vision systems

Keywords Cognex, Grabbing, Machine vision

Cognex, supplier of machine vision systems, has introduced the MVS-8000 product family, the company's next-generation machine vision systems.

The MVS-8000 product family is significant because for the first time, users can now choose to run Cognex's complete library of MMX-accelerated vision software tools directly on the host PC, or, alternatively, on a separate Cognex vision engine with an on-board Pentium MMX CPU. By offering both frame grabber-based and embedded CPU hardware configurations, the MVS-8000 family meets the needs of a wide range of applications where different levels of cost, functionality, and system architecture are required.

"Our MVS-8000 product family is designed to provide OEMs, system integrators, and advanced manufacturing engineers a choice of where to run their vision application", said Colin Graves, sales manager of Cognex UK. "For example, customers with time-critical applications that require guaranteed, real-time performance would choose to run their application on an embedded vision engine. However, many customers may be able to share their host PC's CPU with the vision task and take advantage of a low-cost, frame grabber-based system. The MVS-8000 product family offers a solution to meet both needs."

The MVS-8000 product family's frame grabber-based products feature a PCI bus-mastering frame grabber for high speed image transfer to the host for processing and display and support for up to four multiplexed RS-170 or CCIR cameras. The embedded vision engine products will feature an on-board MMX processor, flexible image acquisition modules to interface to a wide range of camera types, and will be available in PCI, Compact PCI, and VME form factors. A common software architecture allows users to port applications developed on one MVS-8000 system to another without having to rewrite vision application code, protecting the user's investment in software development.

Each member of the MVS-8000 product family provides access to Cognex's library of image analysis and image processing software tools, including the revolutionary PatMax/ Align™, which locates objects under random orientation, size changes, and part appearance variations while maintaining high accuracy. MVS-8000 products also feature a graphical software development interface, the object manager interface (OMI), which allows users to quickly prototype and deploy their application using graphical tools while maintaining access to industry standard Microsoft development tools such as Visual Basic and Visual C/C++.