Socialy Tech
The market for machine vision software has been rapidly expanding over the past few years. Not only is this technology used in automation and robotics, but is also a vital component of end-to-end product development processes.
Machine vision systems bring computers to life by enabling them to see and interpret the images they capture as humans do. The systems are made up of tightly integrated hardware and software components designed to give them human-like or superhuman abilities such as sensing, processing, analyzing, and acting on visual information as easily as we can. These systems can be programmed to detect anomalies such as manufacturing defects, security threats at airports, etc., which makes it that more important for small businesses owners to use machine vision software for their operations.
Usage of machine vision software is widespread across a variety of diverse industries such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, construction, and utilities. It helps in developing high-quality products at lower costs for small businesses owners.
For the purpose of this review, we have selected some popular machine vision software that has been widely used by many industry professionals. These programs can be easily installed on your computer to automate various tasks related to image processing and analysis. The user interfaces ensure that non-coders can also run these programs without any hassles unlike traditional programming languages should you wish to make slight changes in the way they work.
However, let us now look into the top 10 machine vision software essential for small businesses in detail:
1) IP Vision:
Vision from IDS Imaging Development Systems is a powerful yet easy-to-use machine vision software. It is one of the most popular choices for small businesses owing to its wide range of features and relatively low cost. The software can be used with various cameras and image processing boards.
2) HALCON:
HALCON from MVTec Software GmbH is a high-end machine vision software that offers an extensive range of features for industrial applications. The software has been mainly developed for scientific and medical imaging applications but can be used in other industries as well.
3) OpenCV:
OpenCV from Intel Corporation is a free and open-source machine vision library that has been widely used in research and commercial applications. The library supports a wide variety of image processing and analysis operations.
4) GVision from MVTec Software GmbH:
GVision is a simple yet powerful machine vision program that can be used for applications involving various 2D and 3D objects as well as for inspection tasks. The software provides a large selection of tools that can be easily integrated to CAD/CAM systems, which makes it an ideal choice for small businesses.
5) LabView:
From National Instruments Corporation, LabVIEW is a popular software tool used in research and development projects across several industries. It also has a more intuitive graphical user interface compared to other programming languages such as C++ or Java making it easy to learn with less required to become proficient at using it.
6) Cognex VisionPro:
Cognex VisionPro is an easy-to-use yet powerful machine vision software that can be used for machine control and process monitoring tasks. The Visual Studio plug-in provided with the program allows users to reconfigure existing programs without any hassles, unlike traditional programming languages which require the complete source code to be rewritten. Apart from just allowing you to modify, edit, and change existing programs, using this feature saves time as well as money spent on re-training employees on new changes made in the system.
7) Catch 2000 by Cognex Corporation:
Catch 2000 is another popular tool developed by Cognex Corporation primarily designed to detect anomalies such as holes, misalignment, broken wires, and many more. Apart from this, Catch 2000 can also be used to detect special types of defects such as holes in screens or objects with bent edges.
8) Cognex Mobile Vision:
Cognex Mobile Vision is a mobile application that provides you with real-time information about your product while it’s on the manufacturing line. The software package comes with an Android-based tablet for workers that provide them with the necessary information to troubleshoot problems during production which helps small businesses increase their overall productivity levels while ensuring quality control at all times without having to increase the size of their workforce.
9) E-Discovery Machine by AllFusion Software:
The fifth-generation e-discovery software by AllFusion Software is designed to help small businesses with the complex task of electronic discovery and information governance. The software helps in the quick identification of relevant data, easy review, and analysis of large data sets as well as helping in the overall management of e-discovery projects.
10) Matrox Design Assistant:
Matrox Design Assistant is a machine vision software that helps you quickly create custom vision applications without any prior programming knowledge. The software comes with a wide range of features such as template-based application development, on-screen debug windows for viewing results in real-time, and more.
All the aforementioned software tools are essential for small businesses looking to foray into machine vision technology and increase their productivity while maintaining quality control at all times. While some of this software is easy to use and does not require any prior programming knowledge, others might require a bit more learning but offers more features in return. It is important for small businesses to do their research before selecting the right machine vision software that meets their specific needs and requirements.
