The VELTRU V10 Vision Connection is a tight integration for the Matrox Design Assistant, a flow chart based configuration tool for Matrox Machine Vision products. The V10 Vision Connection has been designed for integrating machine vision into VELTRU's robotics applications, but may as well be used as a stand-alone feature to integrate Matrox Machine Vision into the CODESYS PLC environment.
The V10 Vision Connection allows the communication of any parameter between the robot controllers and the machine vision system. For example the robot controller may trigger a capture on the camera. The results of the vision algorithm as position, orientation and quality features of products are sent back to the robot controller. It is also possible to communicate configuration parameters of the vision system. This allows to centralize the format parameters (recipe). The visualization of the robot application allows to incorporate live pictures of the vision system. The V10 Vision Connection allows controlling several cameras with one robot controller. It is also possible to connect several robot controller to one and the same vision system. The Ethernet communication is monitored and automatically reestablished, if needed.
For the calibration of the system the V10 Vision Connection and the C10 Application Templates offer all necessary functionalities and visualizations. The default parameters match the VELTRU Calibration Toolkit.
VELTRU V10 Vision includes a Matrox Iris GT* camera, the V10 Vision Connection and a Connection Box. The Matrox Iris GT* camera is available in various resolutions and with several sensors. The Connection Box considerably simplifies the wiring and optionally is available with integrated 12W LED strips, resulting in a very compact solution for standard applications. The PWM output of the Connection Box allows dimming additional VELTRU VL LED products.
Simulation
For a single cell application, the main focus is typically on handling issues and robot motion; however, more complex, for example multi-robot, integration tend to have logistics as the key feature. VELTRU offers the possibility to simulate the flow of products in multi-robot systems using real control code and making use of the on-board visualization elements. This approach allows to transfer any algorithms and functionality used for simulation into the project.
Multi-Robot System Concepts
Fast handling equipment is often used in processes where volumes cannot be handled by one robot only. The product architecture of VELTRU has multi-robot systems in mind. Our customers may download the corresponding Application Notes describing further technical details from our FTP. VELTRU is able to offer its customer access to all three major concepts for multi-robot lines:
Assortment configuration
The assortment is where several different products are combined into one packaging, common for chocolate and confectionery applications. Each product is fed on an individual conveyor, perpendicular to the conveyor for the packaging.
Parallel flow configuration
In systems with one product type only, the products and the packaging are transported in parallel direction. If moving into the same direction, the last robot will have few products to fit into few cavities of the packaging. This typically leads to errors such as products not being packaged and packaging not getting completely filled. VELTRU is offering a concept allowing to disconnect the speed of the respective conveyors and thus to overcome the mentioned problems.
Counterflow configuration
An alternative method is using the counterflow principle, running the products and packaging in opposite direction. VELTRU is able to support this proven and robust concept.
Sometimes, small details are making the difference. The Calibration Kit is
compatible with all offered Delta Robot tool carrier base plates. The
calibration needle can be reverted to fit into the calibration plate with its
rounded end or to point on a target with its sharp end to precisely verify the
calibration results.
The entire kit is offered with a handy case.
For vision distortion calibration, the vision calibration grid is available in
various standard sizes or can be ordered with project specific size. The coating
minimizes reflections.
The VELTRU Calibration Toolkit allows using the C10 Application Templates to perform all necessary calibration steps of Pick-and-Place applications. It covers machine vision distortion, encoder resolution and sensor to conveyor to robot calibrations. Multi robot system support robot to robot calibration as well. The compact case allows safe transport and convenient storage of the equipment.