JUNE 24--National Instruments (NI; Austin, TX;www.ni.com) unveiled its CVS-1454 Compact Vision System, an industrial vision system that makes cameras smarter by extending the power of LabVIEW software into low-cost, rugged, machine-vision applications. "The Compact Vision System is lowering the cost of machine vision with the capability to handle multiple camera inputs in a small form factor," says John Hanks, NI vision and measurements platform manager. "For example, developers can connect a small, lightweight, remote-head camera for harsh industrial environments, a high-resolution megapixel camera for gauging small objects, and a low-cost monochrome camera for optical character recognition without the need to purchase multiple devices."
The system features three IEEE 1394 (FireWire) ports for connectivity to a variety of imaging sensors, including Sony and Basler cameras. Developers can take advantage of FireWire technology while choosing the resolution and speed of their cameras to match specific application needs. With one device and multiple camera options, creating a customized machine-vision application with the compact vision system results in a lower-cost-per-camera solution.
Developers have two software options for application development on the CVS-1454. NI Vision Builder for Automated Inspection is an interactive software environment that simplifies the task of developing inspection systems. Developers use an intuitive point-and-click interface to build applications for the Compact Vision System hardware. In addition, developers can leverage the LabVIEW graphical development environment to create more customized vision applications. The LabVIEW code generation feature in Vision Builder enables developers to easily migrate between these two software programs.
The Compact Vision System integrated I/O architecture delivers 15 digital input lines, 14 digital output lines, and RS-232 and Ethernet connectivity to more than 20 of the NI FieldPoint family of distributed I/O measurement modules. Developers also can use the RS-232 and Ethernet connectivity to communicate with PLC and motion-control devices and quickly link the NI CVS-1454 vision system and the data it collects to a network for information sharing. In addition, a VGA connection makes it easy to monitor inspection results in real time.
The system features an operating temperature range of 0°C to 55°C and no fans or external vents, enabling use in harsh, industrial environments. The built-in LabVIEW Real-Time engine and 128 Mbytes of memory ensure a deterministic and reliable system for packaging, assembly, robotics, and industrial inspection.
