Intelligent eyes for automation
Siemens is integrating new object recognition features into its optical identification systems. The solution is based on Simatic code-reading systems and extends its functionality with the help of the software Pat Genius, which is distributed to licensed customers. Code readers identify objects by registering patterns such as dot matrix codes and bar codes. Pat Genius goes a step further by evaluating the camera images recorded by the code readers and identifying entire objects or characters based on their shape. Fields of application include quality assurance or the control of pick-and-place robots. The inclusion of this functionality in existing code readers is significant because it permits a straightforward integration of object recognition into industrial controls like Simatic, Simotion, or Sinumerik. The data can then be used to control robots, for example.