Factory automation is the use of controllers, programming, and sensors to perform repetitive tasks, like inspection, with reduced human oversight. In the past decade, factory automation has become prevalent in the manufacturing sector. Machine vision systems inspect objects and can detect changes in the environment in the same way humans use their eyes to view their surroundings. Fortunately, because it is advancing at such a dramatic rate, machine vision and imaging technologies are driving much of the growth in autonomous manufacturing.

Why Factory Automation?

Pixel count in machine vision cameras sensors and data transfer rates have increased by several orders of magnitude, allowing the capture of extremely high-resolution images. Illumination systems have also become orders of magnitude brighter due to advancements in LEDs. With these technological advancements driving down automation prices and labor prices increasing, the desire to automate processes, manufacturing or otherwise, has sharply increased.

Cost of Automation¹

Optics for Factory Automation

Automation integrators require components like cameras, illumination, and imaging lenses for machine vision systems that are robust for manufacturing environments, but also feature extremely high performance, reliability, and repeatability. Without these components, automation systems are unable to perform quality inspection on products or monitor dangerous environmental parameters, increasing the need for human operators to be placed in potentially hazardous conditions.