Machine Vision Approaching Milestone

Machine vision systems are a staple in production lines for barcode reading, quality control and inventory management. And, as the Industrial Internet of Things continues to expand its reach, these systems have become crucial data collectors. These solutions often have long replacement cycles and are less prone to disruption. Due to the increasing demands for automation, machine vision is finding its way into new applications, says Lian Jye Su, principal analyst at ABI Research. Robotics, for example, is a new growth area for machine vision: Collaborative robots rely on machine vision for guidance and object classification, while mobile robots rely on machine vision for SLAM and safety. Machine vision is a mature technology with established incumbents. However, significant advancements in chipsets, software, and standards are bringing deep learning innovation into the machine vision sector. According to a recent analysis by ABI Research, total shipments for machine vision sensors and cameras will reach 16.9 million by 2025, creating an installed base of 94 million machine vision systems in industrial manufacturing. Of that installed base, 11% will be deep learning-based.