Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Machine vision has been defined by the Machine Vision Association of the
Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Automated Imaging Association as
"the use of devices for optical, noncontact sensing to automatically receive
and interpret an image of a real scene to obtain information and/or control
machines or processes."
There are specific differences between image analysis, image processing, and
machine vision. Image analysis generally refers to equipment that makes
quantitative assessments of patterns associated with biological and
metallurgical phenomena, whereas image processing generally refers to
equipment designed to process and enhance images for ultimate human
interpretation.
The instruments used to interpret meteorological and earth resources data are
examples. Machine vision involves automatic image interpretation for the
purposes of:
- process control
- quality control
- machine control
- robot control
- other functions like traffic control, and crowd and security surveillance
Machine vision is an automated technology in which images are captured and
transferred to a computer, and then processed to perform an inspection task
and report the results. Machine vision systems have become more powerful while
becoming much easier to use. Recent advances in machine vision technology,
especially related to smart cameras, have opened the doors to machine vision
use for a wider variety of industrial and nonindustrial applications.
From a mere 6% to 8% of the total market for machine vision systems about a
decade ago, their share of the nonindustrial segment went to about 20% in 2006
and is expected to be around 35% to 37% in 2012. This is a very impressive
increase. The principal objective of this report is to study the impact of
such an increase on the use of machine vision systems in the nonindustrial
sector, how it affects the technologies involved and how the machine vision
industry is tackling this challenge.
Significantly, machine vision involves automatic image interpretation for the
purpose of control (as mentioned above: process control, quality control,
machine control, and robot control). Distinctions are made between image
analysis, image processing, and machine vision. Image analysis generally
refers to equipment that makes quantitative assessments of patterns associated
with biological and metallurgical phenomena. Image processing generally refers
to equipment designed to process and enhance images for ultimate human
interpretation. Instruments used to interpret meteorological and earth
resources data are examples
SCOPE OF STUDY
This report contains:
- An overview of the machine vision market, including definitions, history
and concepts of the industry, technology life cycle, government regulations,
and more
- A review of the machine vision market by important technologies, including
an overview of machine vision systems, types of technologies, components, and
more
- The global market for machine vision by applications, with historical and
current data through 2006 with projections and growth rates through 2012
- Detailed analyses of patents
- Profiles of the major machine vision companies.
METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES
Data in this report came from telephone interviews with manufacturers, system
integrators and end users as well as from searches of company literature and
online sources. Production data from various segments of the industry was
obtained from sources with these industries and from balance sheets of a
number of companies. Forecasts are based on a variety of factors including
technology developments, commercial realities, product/technology lifecycles
and regional economic growth factors.
ANALYST' S CREDENTIALS
Srinivasa Rajaram is a mechanical engineer with more than 40 years' experience
in senior positions in multinational organizations in the fields of weighing,
dynamic balancing and machine monitoring. He has designed layouts for these
types of products for a number of manufacturing units.
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