Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2024 - PIT-8

Machine Vision
Basler and MVTec have
launched first Apps
Image 2: Industrial Edge-based visual inspection of battery cells with MVTec Merlic (left) and Simatic
connectivity solutions with Basler cameras and Basler Vision Connector App (right). (Image: Siemens AG)
Siemens
Industrial Edge
Management*
and Marketplace
Industrial Edge
Device
Basler
or
MVTec
Basler and Siemens have developed a
new joint interface to connect Basler industrial
cameras to the Siemens automation
portfolio. The first Industrial Edge
application based on this interface is the
'Basler Vision Connector', which allows
the camera parameters to be adapted to
individual requirements of a specific use
case. A future Simatic technology module
will use the same interface as the
Edge app to enable a direct connection
between Basler cameras and the S7-1500
system. Compared to other solutions,
the open approach of Siemens and
Basler offers the flexibility to develop
and use a manufacturer's own individual
vision applications or AI models. The
'Anomaly Detection for Visual Inspection'
application developed by MVTec is
also part of the Industrial Edge ecosystem.
It provides camera connectivity and
image analysis in a single app, without
the need for programming or in-depth
vision expertise. It uses two deep learning
networks to detect not only defects
such as scratches or dirt, but also missing
or misplaced components.
App
Standardized Data Layer
Complexity Down,
Optimization Up
With the described hardware-software
GigE
Vision
Camera
*On Premise or Cloud
Image 3: Architecture of the machine vision solution with Siemens Industrial Edge and machine vision
apps from Basler or MVTec. (Image: Siemens AG)
Industrial Edge Ecosystem
So how can isolated solutions be
avoided and machine vision applications
be integrated into the automation
landscape in a way that is scalable?
The Industrial Edge platform from Siemens
combines central device management
with decentral, machine-oriented
data processing - also known as
edge computing. With the Industrial
Edge ecosystem, Siemens is pursuing
an open approach in which industry-proven
solutions from third-party
vendors and Siemens can be combined
and seamlessly integrated into automation
systems. Industrial manufacturers
and machine builders benefit from the
compatibility with the Siemens Simatic
portfolio and the offerings among
each other.
8
In the Industrial Edge Marketplace,
an application store for the industry,
customers can select the most appropriate
software components to create flexible
machine vision solutions for their
specific use cases. This makes isolated
solutions a thing of the past: camera-software
combinations can be securely,
easily and integrated with a scalable
architecture into the automation
setup on any number of edge devices
and updated with just a few mouse
clicks via the Industrial Edge Management
System. The cooperation between
Siemens, Basler and MVTec makes
these benefits a reality with scalable,
plug-and-play solutions that combine
Siemens' automation technology with
third-party machine vision hardware
and software.
Siemens
Simatic S7
Connector Apps
solutions on Industrial Edge and the Simatic
S7-1500 system, industrial image
processing is not being reinvented, but
rather orchestrated differently and tailored
to the respective customer requirements.
Integrating the camera and software
into automation systems makes it
easy to access and analyze data to optimize
production processes and ensure
product quality. Scalability through Industrial
Edge means that industrial vision
use cases can be rolled out in a centrally
managed way. This approach of a standardized,
scalable machine vision infrastructure
allows industrial companies to
focus on the specific challenges of their
use cases without having to spend too
much time and resources on technology
integration. With Siemens Industrial
Edge and machine vision offerings from
Basler or MVTec, this is now possible, ensuring
seamless integration into new and
existing automation systems.
This article was written by, Stefan Meier,
Ecosystem Manager Industrial Edge
Solutions at Siemens (Nuremberg, Germany).
For more information, visit www.
siemens.com/industrial-edge.
Photonics & Imaging Technology, May 2024
Shop Floor / Machine Level
Factory
Cloud

http://www.siemens.com/industrial-edge

Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2024

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