A smart camera in the machine vision market is defined by its system architecture, experts say. Specifically, a smart camera packages an imaging sensor, sensor interface, computer, and I/O interface into a single package.

Smart cameras and vision sensors have been key tools for monitoring and controlling the manufacture and movement of products in industrial environments for many years.

The power of smart cameras lies in their ability to combine a wide range of functions—locating objects, extracting data from barcodes, “reading” alphanumeric characters—into a single, compact device. 

Omron Automation Americas announced the release of a brand-new FHV7-series smart camera featuring the world’s first multi-color light alongside a range of best-in-class image sensors (0.4MP to 5MP, with 12MP coming in the near future). This unique technology is designed to achieve the industry’s highest standards of precision in vision inspections on high-mix production lines.

The Merkur camera series combines a line scan camera with a smart camera and makes it a high-speed system for the inspection of endless material, printing material, paper web and steel band, in the printing industry and textile production.

The manufacturing industry is a very competitive environment. Customers demand the highest quality at the lowest cost and are able to easily search a global economy for that perfect component. 

Many people find vision challenging, and complex vision systems certainly can be overwhelming. But vision is a powerful tool for automated quality control, and in many cases, inspections that previously required costly, complex vision systems—or multiple photelectric sensors—can now be completed with an economical but capable vision sensor. 

First introduced in the 1980s, smart cameras or “smart sensors” combine lenses, embedded sensor, processors, interfaces and software together into small, all-in-one vision systems.

Packaging, electronics, automotive, clinical diagnostics… Smart cameras have made their way into all sorts of industries and applications. Machine vision engineers never get to rest on their laurels because there’s always some new process to improve.

Banner Engineering announced the release of a 5MP VE Series Smart Camera for detection of fine details on large or complex targets.