Factory Automation

Kinect system tracks defects on cars

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation (Karlsruhe, Germany) have built an intelligent gesture detection system for auto maker BMW using two Microsoft Kinect cameras and a PC.
Feb. 13, 2013
2 min read

Researchers at theFraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation (Karlsruhe, Germany) have built an intelligent gesture detection system using two Microsoft Kinect cameras and a PC.

The system -- which was built on behalf of the BMW Group -- tracks the posture of an individual as well as the body of a car on a production line.

It enables an operator to identify defects on the body of the car simply by pointing at them. The location of the defects are then sent to an inspection station where they are stored for reference.

A prototype of the system is to be installed at the BMW plant in Landshut. Working in cooperation with quality control inspectors, Fraunhofer engineers will fine-tune the system onsite before it is deployed in a future production environment.

The gesture detection system will be presented at the 2013 Hannover Messe from April 8 - 12 in Hall 2, Booth D18.

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-- Dave Wilson, Senior Editor,Vision Systems Design

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