The eyes of automation

The "visual extension" of automation makes it possible to acquire an enormous quantity of data in a very short amount of time. These data are then used to improve quality, reduce costs and eliminate waste in any industrial process. Only when vision is perfectly integrated into the automation system is it possible to optimize the production process and the entire cycle of operation and development of plants and equipment.
This is why Cognex and B&R have organized an unprecedented event in two Italian cities (Milan and Bologna) to demonstrate how productivity can be increased with an advanced vision system, integrated in a natural way into the control system through a standard bus such as Powerlink.
On Tuesday, 24 September, the first of two planned live workshops took place at the B&R Automation Academy in Passirana di Rho, Italy: the outcome was convincing and motivating, starting from the interest shown by the participants.
The event that most characterized the day surpassed the technical and functional performance of the system. The joint efforts of the two companies were seen as a signal of a strong presence "you can count on", because it offers simplicity united with certainty of result in all phases of the application and use of the products.
The agenda for the meeting was particularly rich and stimulating: the event opened with a brief introduction of the specific B&R and Cognex solutions and their applications on the market, followed by a practical demonstration of the possibility of integrating smart CCTV cameras with automation systems in a simple and immediately operational way, with all the advantages offered by the Powerlink bus.
The presence on stage of Carlo Galliani, General Manager of Univision, a builder of automatic inspection systems, provided direct testimony of the economic and functional advantages of the integration of new technologies. "We have worked for many years with B&R and Cognex," he stated. "The things we appreciate the most are the excellent technology and the design of the products. This is then reflected in the competitive edge of our systems."
The event was completed by a "live 4-handed workshop", which developed an actual application from scratch, demonstrating the ease of use and configuration of the two combined systems. The upcoming event in Bologna, scheduled for 29 October, will present guests with other testimony direct from the industry.