10 ways machine vision and imaging technology is used beyond the factory floor

Machine vision is traditionally thought of as the use of computer vision technology in anindustrial or practical application or process where it is necessary to execute a certain function or outcome based on the image analysis done by the vision system. In recent years, the idea of machine vision—or at least the components traditionally used within machine vision—has expanded beyond the "factory floor," in quality assurance and industrial automation applications.

Whether it’s a tradeshow put on by the AIA or Messe Stuttgart, the market’s leading shows are prime examples of the expanding applications of machine vision and imaging technology. This image gallery outlines 10 recent examples of imaging technology used beyond the factory floor, ranging from a 3D vision-guided robot used to pick peppers to a deep-sea imaging system used to monitor for pollution and coral health.