Sensors, Vision

Courtesy: Chris Vavra, CFE Media
Sensors, Vision November 17, 2019

Machine vision and AI enhance 3-D printing

Adding machine vision and artificial intelligence (AI) to 3-D printing allows industrial printers to produce products that have never been printed before.

By AIA
A new shoebox-sized laser produces terahertz waves (green squiggles) by using a special infrared laser (red) to rotate molecules of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, packed in a pen-sized cavity (grey).Courtesy: Chad Scales, US Army Futures Command/MIT
Sensors, Vision November 15, 2019

Researchers generate terahertz laser with laughing gas

Researchers from MIT, Harvard University, and the U.S. Army have built a compact device to produce a terahertz laser whose frequency they can tune over a wide range using nitrous oxide for better wireless communication.

By Jennifer Chu
Through energy harvesting, IIoT can deliver maintenance-free wireless sensors through sources such as vibration, RF and light energy. Courtesy: Chris Vavra, CFE Media and Technology
Sensors, Vision November 13, 2019

Using energy harvesting, radio technologies to power wireless sensors

Gathering data from wireless sensors is critical in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) era; using energy harvesting and radio frequency identification (RFID) can provide peace of mind for operators who don’t have to worry about batteries.

By Chris Vavra
Focused laser light generates an optical “tractor beam,” which can manipulate and orient semiconductor nanorods (red) with metal tips (blue) in an organic solvent solution. The energy from the laser superheats the metallic tip of the trapped nanorod, allowing the aligned nanorods to be welded together end-to-end in a solution-based “nanosoldering” process. Courtesy: University of Washington
Sensors, Vision November 12, 2019

Method developed to make nanoscale manufacturing possible

Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a method that could make reproducible manufacturing at the nanoscale possible, enabling new potential applications.

By James Urton
Courtesy: Chris Vavra, CFE Media
Sensors, Vision October 29, 2019

Improve the supply chain with drone-based image recognition

Warehouses are turning to drone-based image recognition to improve supply chain efficiencies.

By AIA
A new type of lightweight, inexpensive hyperspectral camera could enable precision agriculture. This graphic shows how different pixels can be tuned to specific frequencies of light that indicate the various needs of a crop field. Courtesy: Maiken Mikkelsen and Jon Stewart, Duke University
Sensors, Vision October 27, 2019

Hyperspectral cameras designed to improve agricultural practices

A Duke University researcher is working on developing a small, inexpensive hyperspectral camera to enable worldwide precision agricultural practices thanks to a recently-awarded fellowship.

By Ken Kingery
A key to compiling the novel Omnipush dataset was building modular objects (pictured) that enabled the robotic system to capture a vast diversity of pushing behavior. The central pieces contain markers on their centers and points so a motion-detection system can detect their position within a millimeter. Courtesy: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Sensors, Vision October 23, 2019

Robots learn the fundamentals of object manipulation and pushing

Researchers at MIT have developed a system where robots “learn” from a dataset called Omnipush that captures how pushed objects move to improve their physical interactions with new objects.

By Rob Matheson
Courtesy: CFE Media
Sensors, Vision October 23, 2019

Logistics industry looking to improve with machine vision

Logistics operations must be able to process massive databases of SKUs and information and enhancements in machine vision can help improve efficiency.

By Dan McCarthy
These images show the performance of the 1,550-nanometer optical element. The images are light-intensity profiles of the optical field as it appears approximately 185 micrometers above the surface of the optical element. To the left is a simulated light-intensity profile that predicts how the optical element should perform. Note the focal point of light near the center of the image. To the right, an actual light-intensity profile of the optical element, showing that the device does produce a focal point of light at the predicted location. The researchers designed the element to focus light at eight such points at different distances above the element’s surface. Scale bar is 10 micrometers. Courtesy: Alan Zhan, University of Washington
Sensors, Vision October 20, 2019

3-D printed metasurface design can control optical fields

A team led by scientists at the University of Washington has designed and tested a 3D-printed metamaterial that can manipulate light with nanoscale precision, which could have a major effect on autonomous transportation as well as optical elements for displays and sensors in VR or AR headsets.

By James Urton
Courtesy: CFE Media
Sensors, Vision October 10, 2019

Civilian drones are an emerging market in machine vision

A growing number of applications and opportunities for machine vision components — from improving drone navigation and safety to capturing image data are main drivers of the civilian drone market for automation and inspection applications.

By Dan McCarthy