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Reviews the two symposis making up the part of the 2001 Photonics Boston event – “Intelligent Systems and Advanced Manufacturing” and “Environmental and Industrial sensing”. The emphasis was on robots and on vision associated with mobile and/or autonomous robotic activity. Papers discussed include the FIDO Mars exploration robot. The symposium “Machine Vision and Three‐Dimensional Imaging Systems” is also discussed and included systems for inspecting asparagus, monochromatic Fresnel lens applications and fibre optic assembly.

A review of selected vision exhibits and innovations at a new biennial international trade fair in Germany, which essentially replaces the traditional substantial vision presence at the annual Hanover Industry Fair.Design/methodology/approach – Five companies are profiled; four (ISRA Vision, Vitronic, AKATech, and INOS Automation) with innovative products and one (Stemmer Imaging) with a highly European approach to marketing.Findings – One claimed innovation was foreshadowed 20 years ago, but this time it works! Many successful applications of machine vision are now in sectors outside the traditional manufacturing field. These include logistics and aspects of traffic management. The ability to measure moving items accurately was a major advance.Originality/value – This will alert vision practitioners, and researchers intent on commercialisation, who did not get to Munich to the latest developments and opportunities for commercial exploitation of automated imaging technology. It will help them to judge whether a visit to the next event in May 2006 will be justified.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a hybrid algorithm of the heuristic algorithm and the orthogonal design to optimize schemes of welding points (WPs). Assembly variation plays an important role in product manufacture. Different schemes of WPs can influence the sensitivity matrices between part and assembly variations.

The paper proposes a hybrid algorithm to optimize schemes of WPs among components. The hybrid algorithm is composed of the heuristic algorithm and the orthogonal design. The heuristic algorithm is used to optimize the initial scheme; moreover, the last result is generated according to the orthogonal table. Although the algorithm cannot assure generating the optimal scheme, it can acquire the satisfying result by using few times of finite element analysis.

Finally, a rear bracket lamp assembly is illustrated to optimize the schemes of WPs between two components. Results show that the algorithm is efficient to generate the optimized WPs scheme for sheet metal assemblies.

A hybrid algorithm is proposed to optimize schemes of WPs among components, which is composed of the heuristic algorithm and the orthogonal design.

To report on innovations in machine vision at two important international exhibitions held in Germany in May 2006.

The exhibitions were each visited and innovations sought and reported.

Many of the innovations were in the field of 3D image capture and processing.

All of the reported innovations are new and will be of interest outside Germany.

The purpose of this paper is to show the benefits to be obtained from radio frequency ID (RFID) for improved asset management and accountability.

Examines the technology's potential for asset management across industry sectors.

Finds that the majority of companies have very little grasp of how inaccurate the asset register can be, believing stored data could only be a maximum of 5 per cent inaccurate. RFID tags allow those responsible for managing fixed assets far greater visibility into the true condition and value of those assets. For example, workers of heavy machinery, such as mechanics and drivers, can gain instant insight to all the machinery parts' maintenance history as well as information on unique identifiers including part numbers, serial numbers and manufacturers' codes.

By adopting RFID, scanning can be undertaken by line managers on a regular basis in a matter of minutes, without impacting the organisation's core operations in any way. The tight integration with the full asset history and general ledger ensures unprecedented accuracy and auditability of the entire asset register.

Draws attention to the benefits of RFID and the current under‐utilisation of this established technology.

Describes the development and fabrication of an inductive position sensing system based on low cost printed circuit technology. Applications include rotary, linear and 3D position sensing.

The purpose of this paper is to review how far the use of vision has come in providing high‐end integration of robotic handling systems in production lines, and look ahead to a future where robots are equal partners with humans in the production line.

Considers the benefits of 1D, 2D and 3D machine vision.

Finds that the “next generation” of integrating 3D vision with robotics can achieve solutions that have previously eluded technology developers, in particular gripping complex shapes and profiles, picking at variable heights, measuring volume and mass, unpacking products in a random arrangement, e.g. in a bin or pile of parts, or where the products obscure one another.

Shows that calibration of the 3D vision system can be more complex and time consuming. Therefore, as part of the integration process, it is important that a robust calibration capability of the vision system is built‐in, for example using objects of known parameters as standards.

It has always taken vision to invest in robotic automation, now the 3D provides extra perspective on an opportunity to gain competitive advantage and achieve good returns on investment.

Outlines the development over a period of 27 years of a novel sensor that uses the off‐axis rotation of a lens to provide a circular scan of distance data. Applications include weld line tracking, waterjet cutting and many others requiring the measurement of curved and angled surfaces.

A sampling of new and intriguing sensing devices shown at the biennial Sensor exhibition on Nuremberg in May. Devices seen ranged from acoustic arrays several metres diameter to tiny motion sensors and Hall effect devices. Miniaturisation was a constant theme.