Automated product identification has taken numerous forms. The usage of barcode labels is a common form of identification. Lines, dots, and spaces printed in one or two-dimensional formats make up barcodes. And Computer Vision in the Manufacturing sector is paving new waves in industries.
The Electronic Product Code (EPC) is a ‘four-dimensional’ barcode that is readable at retail and designed to trace global data systems. This blog will focus on reading barcodes in manufacturing with the help of computer vision.
Evolvebi says that the global Computer Vision market size was valued at $10.55 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $20.71 billion by 2028.
Barcode Verification
The process of checking the quality of a photograph includes a barcode before and after printing. Computer vision software sets up standard-based support for barcode verification utilizing parameters related to ISO or AIM barcode quality standards.
Each time a code is entered into a barcode scanner, the scanner’s read mechanism will interpret the bars and spaces in the code as the correct symbol. Then, depending on the need of each standard, codes can be visually compared to other printed codes using a ‘camera-based’ device or an optical character recognition engine.
When using a camera-based device, typically a flatbed scanner or standalone camera, the camera only ‘hears’ the sound of an audible beep when it reads a symbol. An OCR engine generally requires more even lighting settings and better barcode positioning to obtain a legible image for analysis.
There are three significant barcodes: 1D barcodes consisting of lines, 2D barcodes containing areas, and hybrid barcodes that encode data using both methods. Depending on their width, they scanned with either a narrow or a broad laser.
For Instance, Scandit has created the world’s first barcode scanning platform that is 100% mobile, requires no manual input from the user, and uses computer vision augmented reality. The barcode scanning solution is available for iOS and Android users worldwide.
Source: Scandit
Smart 3D Optical Character Recognition
OCR Tool
OCR Tool is a script-based image analysis and recognition software aiming to read text from different surfaces. The software can scan an image from a camera, files on your computer, or a web page.
This tool gives you conversion functions to tag text within a specific area. In addition, different individuals with different skill levels can use the software to extract text from several other surfaces.
Learn more about Optical Character Recognition Solutions For Modern Business Framework
Inspection systems that use OCR technology have a valid aid over those relying on old barcode scanning, as they can inspect marks of any orientation independent of their shape or size, including markings that would be unclear by a simple one-dimensional scanner.
Reports and Data says the global Computer Vision system market is forecast to reach USD 25.69 Billion by 2028.
The OCR Tool kit includes the Vision Accelerator and the Accelerator software application. The Vision Accelerator is a device that contains both a camera and optical character recognition (OCR) talents.
The OCR Tool reads 2D and 3D scan data characters with more than 98% accuracy and out-of-the-box performance. Individually checking them instead works on flat or raised surfaces and applies to electronic and physical documents.
Three-dimensional (3D) optical character recognition (OCR) is a process that converts a picture of a document in an unknown language into computer data showing the written characters, most commonly as typed text.
In one or more natural language processing programs, OCR input produces editable text in the intended application.
Read more about OCR use-cases: User onboarding with driver license scanning
The system is the accurate, fast, and efficient automated real-time solution of Smart 3D Optic Recognition for RFID.
For Instance, The Posunitech passport barcode reader successfully reads and verifies. Every one of the different 2D and PDF417 barcodes on passports worldwide. So whether you’re checking a visa, an emergency travel document (ETD), or just looking for personal data about an individual, the Passport Reader works with unparalleled accuracy and speed.
Source: Posunitech
Benefits:
- You do not need to take pictures of the documents or change your cameras. You can use your existing 2D camera.
- Do not need to worry about your image sensors’ shooting precision or whether they are up-to-date. It doesn’t matter how old they are.
- You do not need to worry about more fringes caused by physical interference between pixels on the images you take. Or problems with registration between adjacent photos that you take. Either on the same surface or on different characters.
Inline 3D Inspection
A manufacturing process to check the size of things. Every object is checked individually instead of inspecting finished parts or pulling parts off a production line. The system sends dimensional data to the control computer in real-time via optical coordinate sensing devices – usually just cameras. The computer analyzes the Data and displays any splits as an image on a monitor. This image is superimposed over the part made so that the operator knows exactly where a lousy deviation from a set standard is.
Source: Quality Mag
3D Laser Line Profile Sensors
Three-dimensional line profile sensors are a new generation of laser line scanning systems, taking a new approach in defining the laser line. They scan with a projected 500 to 1000 micrometers wide line onto the surface measures. And use CCD cameras or CMOS sensors to capture the shape information. As a result, the 3D scanner creates a highly detailed topography and surface texture.
For Example, the 3D laser line profile sensors measure aircraft, missiles, and yachts. The circle junction-shaped hologram code is fastened onto a curved surface of airplanes or a ship’s hull. And laser scanning head works along this curve with high accuracy bearing to measure the distance between target points.
Source: Clear View
Smart Vision Accelerator
It is a robotic controller handling the most complex vision algorithms, which allows it to lead any motion and give data about what it has seen. This controller will enable multiple vision sensors, and several cameras mounted together. Then, with actuators, scan the barcodes, and send data to OCR tools.
Factory Smart Sensors
Factory smart sensors are devices with embedded processing and communication capabilities. That collect and analyze data from multiple sources to form—a reliable and coherent view of what is happening.
It has the intelligence to scan barcodes and data encoded in these barcodes. There are various options available: camera-based optical scanners, laser scanners, image digitizers, light detectors & sensors, and CCD-based detectors.
Conclusion
Computer Vision is changing the manufacturing process. For example, barcodes come in many shapes, sizes, and configurations. Vision systems that can identify barcodes regardless of their placement or direction will help manufacturers.
Visionify provides factory vision solutions for factory automation, industrial automation, and other industries to solve machine vision issues. Our system on a cloud platform takes data access, analysis, and decision making. Get in touch with us to get a live demo.
