The Evolution of 3D Vision In Robotics Metrology and Quality News [Video]

From 2D Vision To Machine Vision: The Early Days of Robotic Sight

Machine vision, initially called ‘robotic sight,’ has revolutionized manufacturing by automating defect detection, ensuring accurate assembly, and tracking processes. Early systems relied on 2D vision to inspect and track objects, which suited simple applications with fixed, predictable environments. For instance, a FANUC M-20iA robot (introduced in 2009) with 2D vision could identify and locate a bin containing identical circuit boards. In this setup, the bin and its contents remained in known locations, allowing 2D cameras to perform adequately.

These systems are struggling in complex environments. Lacking depth perception, they are vulnerable to lighting changes, reflections, and certain angles that compromise accuracy. As a result, 2D vision often underperforms in real-world applications where variability is a factor.

This limitation sparked the need for a more robust solution: 3D vision.

The Breakthrough of 3D Vision:Adding Depth To Robotic Perception

3D vision marked a significant advancement in machine vision, enabling robots to interpret …