Founded in 2000, IVS has grown to become a major supplier of machine vision and artificial intelligence solutions to industry. The company’s vision systems are used all over the world in automated production processes for quality control, inspection, guidance, identification, measurement, tracking and counting – in many diverse sectors.

“This new generation of affordable, lightweight robots is unlocking new markets and applications as they work side by side with human workers,” says Earl Yardley, director at IVS. “The result is increased total factor productivity and the elimination of the need for costly precision fixtures, thus allowing different parts to be processed and inspected without changing tools.”

By offering ready-to-run inspection solutions utilising robots and vision in tandem, we are opening a new era for real-time machine vision inspection.

The latest generation vision systems from IVS are based on high resolution digital camera technology combined with sub-pixel accuracy vision software for unparalleled ease of deployment within factory automation. These will marry perfectly with the UR robots provided by RA Rodriguez.

“We use Rodriguez as they are a qualified, knowledgeable supplier that offers a good background in robotics automation with the UR robots,” says Mr Yardley. “Working together on projects means we can leverage their substantial knowledge on flexible automation, coupled with our extensive expertise on automated machine vision solutions. As a result, we can approach projects with a team philosophy utilising a large engineering resource between the two companies.”

Among numerous target applications at IVS customers, the vision enabled UR-series ‘cobots’ will assist human workers with inspection processes. IVS believes that, in the future, inspection benches will include space for an operator and a robot to work in partnership as part of the quality control process.

Mr Yardley says that working with ‘cobots’ has the added advantage of working safely and effectively in workspaces occupied by humans: “Collaborative robots are designed so that the robot and human can work together without barriers. By offering ready-to-run inspection solutions utilising robots and vision in tandem, we are opening a new era for real-time machine vision inspection.”

IVS will offer vision-enabled versions of UR3, UR5, and UR10 model robots from Universal Robots. The UR3, in particular, is expected to prove popular. This smaller table-top robot can be used to provide camera inspection on multiple sides of complex parts and components, allowing precision automated inspection.

The compact UR3 weighs only 11kg, but has a payload of 3kg, ±360° rotation on all wrist joints and infinite rotation on the end joint. Importantly, the UR3 is built with the same proven collaborative technology as the larger UR5 and UR10 robot arms. All three robots feature the identical safety system and ±0.1mm repeatability. The UR3 has a default force sensing of 150N but can be set to stop if it encounters a force as low as 50N, if required.

IVS is a member of the British Standards Institute, CE Marking Association and the Processing & Packaging Machinery Association. In addition, the company is an accredited member of the SafeContractor scheme.

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By using UR3, UR5, and UR10 model robots from Denmark’s Universal Robots, IVS, whose vision systems can be integrated with all major robot manufacturers and control systems, utilises the robots for the inspection of complex components as well as providing positioning feedback to the robot. The UR3 is a smaller table-top robot that can be used to provide camera inspection on multiple sides of complex parts and components, allowing precision automated inspection.

IVS is also using the robots to help assist human workers with inspection processes, which relieves them of more commonplace work meaning they are typically redeployed to higher value tasks that robots cannot do. In the future inspection benches will include space for an operator and a robot to work in partnership as part of the quality control process of production.

Earl Yardley, director at Industrial Vision Systems, believes that working with collaborative robots has the added advantage of working safely and effectively in workspaces occupied by humans. “Collaborative robots are designed so that the robot and human can work side by side without barriers. By offering ready-to-run inspection solutions utilising robots and vision in tandem, we are opening a new era for real time machine vision inspection.

“When it can be deployed, collaborative robots are generally easier to use than the traditional models. At Industrial Vision Systems not only do we have off-the-shelf integration for all major robot manufacturers but we also utilise the robots for the inspection of complex components as well as providing positioning feedback to the robot.”

Launched in 2000, IVS manages the design, installation and commissioning of quality control vision systems for manufacturing companies. The company’s vision systems are used for inspection, guidance, identification, measurement, tracking and counting. Its systems are some of the most innovative and advanced machine vision solutions on the market today, successfully deployed in thousands of systems around the world.

Visit the Industrial Vision Systems website for more information.

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