With a global product launch, Omron is presenting an image processing system that uses AI to enable optical inspections without existing bad patterns. The system is based on the company's FH platform. With the help of the newly developed AI image processing tools in the FH software, reliable and robust automatic inspections are possible even for complicated and difficult to characterize defect features. Time-consuming and strenuous manual visual inspections can thus be replaced or simplified.

Manufacturers are under enormous pressure to automate processes that rely on the expertise of experienced employees. Visual inspection in particular - even on flexible lines that produce a wide range of items - is critical to reliably detect the smallest defects. Traditionally, the sensitivity and knowledge of quality inspectors with many years of experience were crucial. Nowadays, however, employees at production sites may not be allowed to work in the same room to protect them from Covid-19. This leads to an increasing demand for labor-saving, automated visual inspections.

Artificial intelligence has now reached a level where it can recognize object features as well as humans and automatically learn criteria. While many AI solutions face challenges with large amounts of image data, specialized hardware and technical know-how, Omron has made progress in implementing its wide range of applications. To overcome these challenges, the company has developed AI for defect detection that achieves the flexibility and sensitivity of manual visual inspection. These AI tools are now part of the FH series vision system.

"With the current Vision AI tools, we are often able to achieve an inspection quality that was previously only possible with manual and visual inspections. The AI tools offer a very powerful addition when traditional optical measurement and inspection solutions reach their limits. We continue to collect data and conduct research to develop the latest AI technology. Further automation of visual inspections can create added value in several areas. Process reliability and process efficiency are significantly increased, while employees are relieved of strenuous and monotonous inspection activities," says Jan Nieswandt, Product Marketing Manager for Vision at Omron Europe. as