The camera is the “eye” of every artificial vision system: it captures the image the software will analyse. Choosing the right camera type —along with its optics and lighting— is decisive for reliable inspection. This guide reviews the main camera types for artificial vision and their industrial applications.
What the camera does in a vision system
The camera turns the light reflected by the product into a digital image. Its resolution, speed and sensitivity determine which defects can be detected and at what rate. It always works alongside the optics (focus and field of view) and the lighting, which highlights the features to inspect.
Types of cameras for artificial vision
- Area (matrix) cameras: capture a full 2D image; the most versatile for inspecting parts, labels or presence.
- Line-scan cameras: scan line by line; ideal for continuous material (coils, films) or cylindrical products rotating 360°.
- 3D cameras: measure volume, height and shape; useful for metrology and fill or assembly control.
- High-speed cameras: freeze very fast processes to inspect high-throughput lines.
- Multispectral/IR cameras: see beyond the visible spectrum to detect defects invisible to the eye.
How to choose the right camera
The choice depends on the defect to detect, the part size, the line speed and the resolution required. More megapixels isn’t always better: what matters is the balance between camera, optics and lighting. You can read more about the general concept in the machine vision article on Wikipedia.
Industrial applications
With the right camera, artificial vision inspects labels and codes, detects surface defects, measures parts, verifies assemblies and controls packaging, in sectors such as food, pharma, automotive and packaging.
At AIS Vision Systems we select and integrate the right camera, optics and lighting for each artificial vision application. Tell us what you need to inspect and we’ll design the system to measure.