Virtual Instrumentation for Visual Inspection in Mechatronic Applications

Visual inspection becomes very important part of mechatronic and industry applications. The methods which replace human eye and human factor increase speed and reliability of many processes. Virtual instrumentation (LabVIEW from National Instruments e.g.) is very good environment for developing visual inspection tools integrating all basic elements: imaging sensors, I/O hardware and algorithms [1]. Paper focuses on possibilities of designing automated visual inspection link based on LabVIEW for searching and counting of selected parts of products. Algorithms such as Pattern and Geometric Matching, Color Location or Hough Transformation are key elements of all software solutions. Designed visual systems also serves like client communicating with superior system (server) via TCP IP enabling remote control.