Full process control thanks to imaging and sensors

It is becoming increasingly common to have to monitor processes beyond the capabilities of the human eye. Sometimes they happen too quickly, sometimes they are on a nanometer scale, and sometimes defects occur only in invisible wavelengths. That companies retain full control nonetheless is down to imaging and sensor solutions.

Custom-made camera systems for every application

High-speed cameras detect even the most minute defects in fast-moving processes. Even in bread factories, cameras nowadays monitor the quality and quantity of bakery products. Smart, pre-configured imaging solutions are also making implementation easier for users.

Standards such as gigabit Ethernet (GigE vision) and USB 3.0 also ensure the rapid and reliable transmission of image data. With manufacturers relying on photonics here as well, because transmission is mainly by fiber-optic cable.

In the estimation of the FRAMOS Market Study2016, “image processing has long since outgrown niche status”. According to the authors of the annual trend report: “users and manufacturers see expansive fields in which the technology can be used, spanning the entire digital value creation chain in industry, science and security.”

Dynamically growing market – Key to Industry 4.0

According to up-to-date market figures from the VDMA Robotics and Automation Association, the increasing variety of applications is resulting in a highly dynamic industrial image processing market.

Following a ten percent sales increase the year before, the Association is anticipating growth of eight percent in the European imaging market in 2016 as well. In Germany alone, sales have doubled to around EUR 2.2 billion within ten years. Image processing has developed into a key technology for automation and Industry 4.0.

Cancer diagnosis, defect-free components and autonomous cars

Technological progress is also proceeding apace: Terahertz sensors enable the non-destructive testing of plastic parts, ceramics or sandwich-structured composite materials. Autonomous vehicles feature laser-based LiDAR systems together with stereo and infrared cameras for seamlessly monitoring of their environment. Surgeons can use fiber optic sensor systems to differentiate in real time between tumorous and healthy tissue by means of spectroscopic analysis.

Imaging and sensor manufacturers and researchers are opening doors to a safer and more worthwhile future in almost all areas of life. At LASER World of PHOTONICS 2017 they will once again be demonstrating what they are capable of.