2018 Innovators Awards: Gold-level honorees

2018 Innovators Awards: Gold-level honorees

Gold-level award honorees of our 2018 Innovators Awards Program are as follows (categories in parentheses):

Silicon Software GmbH: Deep Learning on FPGAs with VisualApplets 3.0 new CNN Extension Library (Software). The VisualApplets Deep Learning Library Extension is an Operator Library that allows Integrators and OEMs to quickly implement their Caffe and TensorFlow GPU generated Inference Models inside an FPGA via drag & drop.
SICK: Ranger3 (Cameras-3D). Ranger3 is a new generation of compact high-speed 3D streaming cameras from SICK. With a sensor resolution of 2560x832 pixels, the Ranger3 provides full frame imaging at 7kHz profile rate and up to 30kHz at ¼ of the sensor rows (200 rows) with 2560 3D coordinates per profile. Compared to existing 3D camera offers on the market, Ranger3 makes a big leap in technology development. In addition, this vast performance increase is offered in a small housing (55 x 55 x 77 mm) that facilitates narrow space integration, according to the company.
Emergent Vision Technologies: ACCEL Series - 8K Line Scan Camera with the 25 GigE Interface (Cameras-specialty). The Accel LB-8K uses an 8K CMOS sensor, and according to the company, will extend the boundaries of line scan imaging and machine vision worldwide. Being powered by the latest 25 GigE Vision interface, the Accel LB-8K provides more than two-fold increase in data transmission speeds over its predecessor, 10 GigE Vision and twenty-five-fold increase over the industry standard, the GigE Vision interface. 25 Gigabit Ethernet is a standard for Ethernet connectivity in a datacenter environment, developed by IEEE 802.3.
Vision Research: Phantom v2640 high-speed camera (Cameras-specialty). The v2640 is a high-speed camera that uses a new proprietary 4 Megapixel (Mpx) CMOS image sensor (2048 x 1952) with multiple modes built into it, affording unmatched flexibility, according to the company. Correlated Double Sampling (CDS) is performed for low noise, high dynamic range operation. This capability may also be switched off to achieve higher throughput. Additionally, the sensor may be placed in Low Gain Mode, for a better Signal-to-Noise ratio.
Vieworks Co., Ltd.: VT-MS16K (Cameras-specialty). VT-MS16K model is the world’s first HYBRID multispectral TDI, time delayed integration, line scan camera with Vieworks’ proprietary TDI line scan sensor bearing the CCD pixel structure implemented by using the CMOS technology. In short, the hybrid TDI line scan sensor is bringing the benefits of CCD structure and the benefits of CMOS technology together. This camera is designed for applications where faster line rates and higher sensitivity are crucial, according to Vieworks.
Zivid Labs: Zivid (Cameras-3D). Zivid is a new 3D camera that allows acquisition of full color 3D point clouds in above full HD (2.3MPixels) with 100μm depth resolution at a rate of 10Hz. It comes in a rugged, compact and lightweight industrial packaging, and it can easily be mounted either directly on a robot or in the robot's vicinity, according to the company.
CEVA Inc.: CEVA-XM6 Computer Vision and Deep Learning Platform (Embedded vision). The CEVA-XM6 computer vision and deep learning platform helps designers to bring advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to embedded devices within the tight power and cost constraints under which the developers of these products operate.
Photometrics: Prime BSI Scientific CMOS camera (Cameras-specialty). Prime BSI camera delivers the perfect balance between high resolution imaging and sensitivity with a pixel design that is optimized for commonly used 60 times magnification and near perfect 95% quantum efficiency to maximize photon detection. A 4.2 MPixel camera with 6.5 μm pixels, it captures highly detailed images with superior quality while acquiring data at high frame rates and delivers a 100%-pixel fill factor and does not rely on micro-lensing technology to increase detection, resulting in a 30% increase in sensitivity over previous sCMOS cameras, according to the company.
Sciemetric: QualityWorX Vision (Software). QualityWorX Vision from Sciemetric Instruments Inc. is a new flexible data management and analytics platform that helps manage machine vision images and data, which enables manufacturers to improve and optimize their machine vision inspection processes.
A&B Software: GigESim GigE Vision simulator (Software). GigSim is a software package which allows end-users and developers to convert their computers, applications and devices into a set of virtual GigE Vision cameras. GigESim is provided with GigEmulator application which behaves as a universal GigE Vision camera.
Sill Optics: Telecentric lenses with tunable working distance (Lighting, lenses, and optics). In corporation with Optotune Switzerland, Sill Optics has designed telecentric lenses with tunable working distance. They are able to achieve an adequate focusing without any mechanical movement and thereby preserving performance in the given tuning range. Furthermore, all advantages of the telecentric measurement principle maintain.
Specim: Specim IQ (Cameras-non-visible). SPECIM IQ is the world’s first mobile hyperspectral camera designed for the analysis of material samples in numerous applications, according to the company. The camera is based on a VNIR CMOS image sensor (400 – 1000 nm range), along with a 5 MPixel CMOS viewfinder camera and user interface software designed by Specim. It features a USB Type-C camera interface, 5200 mAh Li-Ion (Type 26650) battery and can make approximately 100 measurements with one SD card and battery.
IDS Imaging Development Systems: Ensenso X Series (Cameras-3D). Ensenso X 3D cameras work according to the "projected texture stereo vision" principle. Each model has two monochrome GigE uEye cameras with 1.3 MP or 5MP CMOS sensors and a projector that casts a high-contrast textures onto the object to be captured by using a pattern mask. The light intensive projector unit with 100 W LED projector power and integrated GigE switch enables perfectly tailored adjustments, according to IDS.
Kuvio Automation: KuvioVision for Raspberry Pi (Vision systems). KuvioVision is an easy to use graphical build and deployment environment for machine vision applications, according to Kuvio. The core of KuvioVision contains the fundamental tools for addressing most traditional machine vision applications. Combining KuvioVision with the Raspberry Pi introduces affordable and easy to build machine vision enabled systems to an audience of developers, students, and hobbyists/enthusiasts who may have little to no background in machine vision.
Teledyne DALSA: LINEA Multi-line CMOS Camera (Cameras-visible). Teledyne DALSA’s next generation multiline CMOS sensor architecture and camera design allows users to control the start and stop time of each line exposure independently. This high level of flexibility enables users to capture images using standard TDI and HDR modes. Furthermore, it reportedly enables new capabilities of capturing multi-field or multispectral images in a single scan, a growing requirement for designers of today’s demanding machine vision applications.
Coherix: Predator3D Bead Inspection (Embedded vision). With this instantaneous 3D visualization and inspection capability on the bead, product development is empowered to specify the bead in a manner which is directly related to its functionality; and manufacturing engineering is empowered to better control and optimize the expensive dispensing processes, according to Coherix.
Metaphase Lighting Technologies: Hyperspectral LED illumination (Lighting, lenses, and optics). Metaphase Technologies new line of hyperspectral LED illumination products enable machine vision systems to parcel out different shades of color better than the human eye, and even allow for measuring of individual chemical compounds without the downfalls of a combustion light-source. The lights feature two new broadband and highly customized illumination systems, both for VNIR HSI (350-1000nm) and Broadband SWIR (1000-1680nm) spectrums.
Lumenera Corporation: Lumenera LtX45R Camera Series with P-Iris Lens Support (Cameras-visible). The Lumenera LtX45R camera series are currently the only Sony Pregius-based USB 3.1 Gen 1 cameras on the market equipped with a controller to accept P-Iris lenses. Lumenera designed the P-Iris lens connector into its cameras for systems that require remote control of the lens’ iris to further the camera’s light management abilities.
Algolux: CANA (Research and development/start-up category). Algolux's Camera Aware Neural Architecture (CANA) provides a novel approach by replacing the traditional ISP that delivers a processed image to the upper level perception stack (e.g. classification, object detection, etc.) with a unified camera-aware neural architecture that integrates the image formation model (optics, sensor) with the high-level computer vision model, resulting in significantly improved robustness and accuracy across difficult imaging scenarios vs. current methods.