Numerous areas of expertise are often required for the inspection of an individual product, with many different sensors being used within a single inspection machine. For this reason it is necessary for the production engineer to have at least a working knowledge of all the different technologies that may be employed. This book covers the majority of sensors that can be applied on the shop floor and has been designed to assist engineers with little or no previous experience in the various fields. The information that the book contains is of a highly practical nature and is based on the author's considerable first-hand experience of varied industrial applications.

New concepts for gaging, inspection, checking, machine vision, and robotic testing. Includes guidelines for installing complex electronic and computerized systems and a directory of commercially availalbe computer software, as well as distributors' names and addresses. Annotation copyright Book News

This pioneering text/reference presents a detailed focus on the use of machine vision techniques in industrial inspection applications. An internationally renowned selection of experts provide insights on a range of inspection tasks, drawn from their cutting-edge work in academia and industry, covering practical issues of vision system integration for real-world applications. Topics and features: presents a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art hardware and software tools for machine vision, and the evolution of algorithms for industrial inspection; includes in-depth descriptions of advanced inspection methodologies and machine vision technologies for specific needs; discusses the latest developments and future trends in imaging and vision techniques for industrial inspection tasks; provides a focus on imaging and vision system integration, implementation, and optimization; describes the pitfalls and barriers to developing successful inspection systems for smooth and efficient manufacturing process.

Contents of this volume include: on-line glossmeter for stainless steel sheets; in process optical measurement of micro profile on cold rolled steel plates; optical profile transducer; and optical profilers for surface roughness.

“Visual Sensing and its Applications: Integration of Laser Sensors to Industrial Robots” provides comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of research and development on this robotic vision system. A laser-structured light is the main concern in discussions of visual sensing. Also addressed in this book are all components of the robotic vision system and an emphasis on how to increase the accuracy of the system using three levels of calibration. This includes calibration of the vision system (eye calibration), calibration of eye-to-hand configuration and calibration of robot kinematics (hand calibration). With the integration of the laser sensors to industrial robots numerous applications in the field of robotic welding, grinding, machining, inspection, and palletizing are illustrated based on practical engineering projects in order to demonstrate how the visual sensing is performed. The book will serve as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers in the areas of robotics and machine vision. Dr. Zhongxue Gan is a vice chairman and chief scientist of the ENN Group, China. He serves as a member of the National Energy Expert Consultation Committee of China and member of the National Coal Council of the USA. He is also a co-founder of Intersmart Robotic Systems Co. Ltd., China. He was a research fellow in flexible automation systems at ABB and a founding director of ABB Corporate Research Robot Laboratories, both in the USA and in China. Dr. Qing Tang is a co-founder and CEO of Intersmart Robotic Systems Co. Ltd., China and an adjunct professor in Physics at Sichuan University, China. He was a principle consulting engineer and project manager at the ABB Corporate Research Robot Laboratory in the USA.

Research into and development of high-precision systems, microelectromechanical systems, distributed sensors/actuators, smart structural systems, high-precision controls, etc. have drawn much attention in recent years. These new devices and systems will bring about a new technical revolution in modern industries and impact future human life. This book presents a unique overview of these technologies such as silicon based sensors/actuators and control piezoelectric micro sensors/actuators, micro actuation and control, micro sensor applications in robot control, optical fiber sensors/systems, etc. These are four essential subjects emphasized in the book: 1. Survey of the (current) research and development; 2. Fundamental theories and tools; 3. Practical applications. 4. Outlining future research and development.

Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field combining Mechanical, Electronic, Computer, and other Engineering fields to develop intelligent processes and products. Based on thirty years of extensive work in industry and teaching, this book provides an overview of the sensors and sensor systems required and applied in mechatronics with an emphasis on understanding the physical principles and possible configurations of sensors rather than simply a discussion of particular types of sensors. Well illustrated with examples of commercially available sensors and of recent and future developments, this book offers help in achieving the best solution to various kinds of sensor problems encountered in mechatronics. In a clear and detailed manner, the author reviews the major types of transducers, presents a characterization of the state-of-the-art in sensing technology and offers a view on current sensor research. This book will be a vital resource for practicing engineers and students in the field. - Comprehensive coverage of a wide variety of sensor concepts and basic measurement configurations encountered in the mechatronics domain - Written by a recognized expert in the field who has extensive experience in industry and teaching - Suitable for practicing engineers and those wanting to learn more about sensors in mechatronics

Vision Sensors and Edge Detection book reflects a selection of recent developments within the area of vision sensors and edge detection. There are two sections in this book. The first section presents vision sensors with applications to panoramic vision sensors, wireless vision sensors, and automated vision sensor inspection, and the second one shows image processing techniques, such as, image measurements, image transformations, filtering, and parallel computing.

Industrial Assembly is a rapidly changing field with significant importance in production. This book is the first of its kind to combine technology, design, methods, and planning and control models of assembly operations and systems. With the increasing importance of assembly in industry and of simultaneous engineering approaches, this timely publication provides: comprehensive coverage of technological, engineering, and management aspects of this field; multi-disciplinary approaches to rationalization of assembly operations and systems; explanation of qualitative models, information technologies, and design techniques, which have been practised effectively in industrial assembly; as well as theoretical foundations and emerging trends that shape the future of assembly.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Imaging: Sensors and Technologies" that was published in Sensors