Robots that see underpin the future of self-driving cars, humanoid robots and autonomous drones, writes The Wall Street Journal (Sept. 14, 2018). Now, food manufacturers are combining advances in laser vision with artificial-intelligence software so that automated arms can carry out more-complex tasks, such as slicing chicken cutlets precisely or inspecting toppings on machine-made pizzas.
Being able to see is a major frontier in robotics and automation—crossing it is key to autonomous vehicles that can navigate obstacles, humanoid robots that can more closely integrate with humans and drones that can fly more safely. Companies world-wide are investing in computer vision-based technology. Intel recently bought Mobileye for $15 billion, in part for the Israeli company’s vision-based driver-assistance technology.
Food manufacturers have been early adopters of new technologies from canning to bread slicers, and vision automation has been used for years for tasks such as reading bar codes and sorting packaged products. Leaders are finding the technology valuable because robot eyes outpace the human eye at certain tasks. Now technical improvements, tougher materials and declining prices mean Tyson can integrate vision technology in its new $300 million chicken-processing plant. The technology helps optimize the use of each part of the bird.
Advances so far allow vision technology to ensure frozen pizzas have the correct toppings. Other applications include the ultrasonic slicing of cheese, cutting bread rolls with water jets and picking pancakes off a production line. Car makers, historically the biggest user of vision technology, are using it for emergency braking and scanning road signs; logistics companies deploy it to more quickly identify packages, and consumer electronics companies to position liquid-crystal display screens more precisely than is possible with the naked eye.
Classroom discussion questions:
1. Why are vision systems becoming an important OM tool?
2. Will driver-assistance technology really eliminate the need for drivers? Why? When?