Scorpion Mono Stinger: Wolf in sheep’s clothing

Extended by custom Scorpion Tool Components 

Scorpion Vision Apps

Scorpion Mono Stinger™ features:

Backed by the best support

Scorpion Vision Software® Concept

The fully integrated machine vision solution, consists of a SmartCamera from Sony and Scorpion Vision Software® with the latest 3D Vision algorithms. Optional GigE camera from Sony can be added to implement true stereo-vision or smartcam multicamera solutions. The 3D SmartCamera is a natural advance when 2D processing is insufficient to solve the machine vision challenge.

3D Model created by Scorpion 3D Smartcam

Benefits in 3D Machine Vision

The benefits in 3D machine are:

• Works in physical coordinates
  • easy to verify – can verify against cad drawings
• Object location does not degrade when the object position changes
• It is possible to detect that something is wrong
  • in 2D machine vision there is normally no quality measure
• The systems are more accurate
• The system should never fail

‘‘Scorpion Vision Software is a powerful framework where the user can process 2D and 3D images from our cameras without programming’‘, says Thor Vollset, CEO of Tordivel AS.  ‘‘With Scorpion 3D SmartCam, the user can choose to do MonoPose3D™ or standard stereo vision. The 3D reference systems in Scorpion make it easy to do 3D with 2D image processing algorithms. The object is located in space and the 3D reference is passed to the 2D tools performing sub-pixel measurements in space. The 3D points and features can be converted to true 3D Point Clouds or 3D Images that are visualized and efficiently processed.  We believe this is a unique offering in 3D machine vision.”

About Scorpion Vision Software

Scorpion Vision Software® is an extremely robust and accurate 2D and 3D machine vision software framework including: integrated python development, .net plugins, 2D toolbox of 100 tools, 2D and 3D visualization, 3D toolbox containing 50 tools, extremely accurate 3D stereo vision, a nice toolset for point cloud processing including ConnectedComponents, PlaneFit, SphereFit, CylinderFit and 3DMaMa™.

Scorpion Vision Software® is an independent and open software tool for industrial vision. The system gives the user the choice of a small form factor of an embedded PC, a Sony SmartCam or the power of an Industrial PC multicore PC. The system is founded on top of a standard Windows XP / XPe/ Windows 7 PC platform. It is cost effective benefitting from the processing power of the multicore CPU, the low cost and high quality firewire/usb/GigE cameras and the possibility of connecting multiple cameras to one PC. Scorpion solves tasks within robot vision, label inspection, assembly verification, color identification and gauging.

Download press release with high resolution images.

Read more about Scorpion 3D SmartCam™

Scorpion 3D Stinger™ for Robot Vision is designed to solve manufacturers’ classic challenge: Picking parts from a conveyor belt, a pallet or a crate. Scorpion 3D Stinger™ captures images, identifies and locates the product and sends the id and 3D location to a picking robot. Today parts are often picked and stacked manually. Manufacturers spend a lot of time and resources shifting or organizing parts in the manufacturing process or feeding robots and machines with parts. To pick unordered parts requires that the robot can recognize the parts from many angles, and that it knows where in space to pick.

Product Description
The automation software Scorpion 3D Stinger™ for Robot Vision from Tordivel AS identifies and locates any part in 3D and accurately locates the 3D coordinates in space. The system is the robot’s eyes. To teach the system, the part’s physical dimension is described in a simple text file. This is used by Scorpion 3D Stinger™ together with information from the camera images, to calculate the most accurate picking position in space. The system combines the 3D stereo vision images with the 3D data in a unique way – the system never fails!
The basis for the product is Scorpion Vision Software, developed by Tordivel AS. This is a generic software package for 2D and 3D machine vision. Scorpion Vision Software is the first and only 3D machine software on the market where image analysis is done without any programming. We believe this is unique in a global context. The platform makes it possible for a  Scorpion 3D Stinger™ system to add inspection and quality control tasks when needed. Scorpion has built-in modules for communication with all industrial robots and is easily adapted to any motion control unit. The product contains a large toolbox for 2D and 3D imaging and can easily be extended with new tools – like building blocks.The system is an open framework built around the script language python and uses only well known industry standard interfaces. Cameras from all major camera vendors can be used with the software. Scorpion Vision Software is under constant development.

Based on a strategic 3D R&D effort
The product is a result of years of research and development in 3D machine vision. Tordivel AS has participated in research projects in this area both nationally and internationally since 2006. The Scorpion 3D Stinger™ for Robot Vision  is developed in the AutoCast R&D project sponsored by the Norwegian Research Council and coordinated by Jøtul AS.

Industrial Strength 3D
Tordivel has delivered 3D Robot Solutions since 2006. Scorpion 3D Stinger™ for Robot Vision is currently being tested at Jøtul AS in manufacturing of cast iron stoves in Fredrikstad, Norway. In  Sykkylven, Norway Ekornes is a selected pilot customer with the first system delivered in July 2010. The system used in the production of Stressless.  System # 2 is ordered and expected to be in operation before Christmas.

Distribution
The product is distributed and sold to a selected group of cutting-edge OEMs,  end-users, automation partners and robot system integrators. Scorpion 3D Stinger™ for Robot Vision will be launched internationally at the Vision 2010 exhibition in Stuttgart in November 2010 to find more partners for the Scorpion 3D Stinger™ program.

Read more at TordivelBlog

Add 3D machine vision to any Windows Application
It has the unique capability that anyone can add 2D and 3D machine vision into any Windows application in a matter of minutes.

It is a 3D machine vision component revolution
Scorpion VisionX completely eliminates the need for programming. It has all functionalities required for an advanced machine vision, surveillance or automation solution, built in, and the main application simply has load the component and invoke it, using a simple and  well-documented interface.  This is nothing but a component 3D machine vision revolution.

Wide range of 2D and 3D application areas
Scorpion VisionX is used in a variety of 2D applications like Color Identification,  Assembly Verification,  Barcode Reading, OCR, OCV, High precision gauging and Label Verification as well as 3D applications like 3D Identification, 3D Assembly Verification, High precision 3D gauging, 3D Robot Vision, 3D Laser Triangulation and 3D Stereo Vision.

Supports USB, Firewire, GigE, CameraLink and 3D cameras
Scorpion VisionX supports all Sony, Basler, Point Grey, PixeLINK, Imaging Source, Allied Vision and Unibrain’s IEEE-1394 cameras. GigE support is provided for AVT Prosilica, Sony and Basler Area and linescan cameras. Scorpion also interfaces Sony’s SmartCam. Linescan cameras are supported through a CameraLink interface based on Matrox Mil 9.0 and their complete range of framegrabbers. 3D imaging and high speed laser triangulation are supported by using SICK 3D cameras. New cameras are continuously added to Scorpion VisionX.

3D imaging using two-sided laser triangulation
Thor Vollset CEO in Tordivel AS says “We see a great potential in 3D Imaging. With Scorpion VisionX we are able to create the most accurate 3D models using 3D laser triangulation. Scorpion VisionX supports laser triangulation using standard USB, Firewire or GigE cameras and the high-speed Sick 3D Camera. This flexibilty gives the OEM the choice to target unit cost, development cost,  speed or accuracy with Scorpion VisionX 3D.”

Scorpion VisionX is backed by a complete set of DIY tutorials
This release of Scorpion Vision Software is backed with an extensive set of DIY tutorials including 3D Stereo Vision, Using Sony SmartCam, Using Firewire Cameras, Getting started with Scorpion VisionX, Scorpion 3D laser triangulation and Scorpion 3D Monopose. This is significantly reducing the cost of developing an OEM application.

About Scorpion Vision Software®
Scorpion Vision Software® is an independent and open software tool for industrial vision. The library approach of making machine vision solutions is old-fashioned. PC-based rapid application development tools like Scorpion for 2D and 3D machine vision produce better and more reliable applications — five to 100 times faster from idea to working application than systems based on a standard library approach. Scorpion Vision Software gives the user the choice of a small form factor of an embedded PC, a Sony SmartCam or the power of a multicore PC. The system is founded on top of a standard Windows XP/Vista/7 PC platform. It is cost effective benefitting from the processing power of the multicore CPU, the low cost and high quality firewire, usb and GigE cameras and the possibility of connecting multiple cameras to one PC. Scorpion solves tasks within robot vision, label inspection, assembly verification, color identification and gauging.

Read the Scorpion VisionX data sheet and Training Tutorial.

The interface makes the whole functionality of the 3D Cameras available inside Scorpion, including SICK’s unique MultiScan capacity to simultaneously acquire 3D and 2D data. Moreover, it is possible to acquire calibrated and rectified 3D data.

‘‘Scorpion Vision Software is a powerful framework where the user can process 2D and 3D images from our cameras without programming’‘, acknowledges Fredrik Nilsson, the product manager for the SICK 3D Cameras. ‘‘In Scorpion, the 3D data is treated as true 3D Point Clouds that directly can be visualized and efficiently processed. This gives users a high degree of flexibility and creates new opportunities for application solutions using the high quality 3D and MultiScan data from our cameras”.

‘‘We really look forward to promote the SICK’s cutting edge 3D Cameras together with Scorpion Vision Software. The high speed 3D data is a perfect companion for Scorpion Vision 3D and will generate new opportunities in Automatic Inspection Systems’‘, says Tordivel’s CEO and founder Thor Vollset.

About SICK 3D Cameras
SICK Ranger and Ruler are high-speed 3D Cameras for the most demanding needs. With their fast measurement speed, data quality, and high flexibility enabled by MultiScan technology, they are ideal for tough industrial environments worldwide. The cameras can be used for various solutions – from small-sized component inspection up to large-scale log scanning. They provide essential object information, such as 3D-shape, volume, contrast, gloss, and surface defects – all at the same time – needed for robust and reliable solutions.

About SICK
SICK AG’s activities focus on producing increasingly intelligent sensors and sensor solutions for factory, logistics, and process automation. SICK provides, among other products, industrial vision cameras for factory and logistics automation. This product line includes Vision Sensors, Smart Cameras, Code readers, Accessories, and Cameras for high speed 3D Machine Vision. Target customers are Machine Builders, System Integrators, and End Users. Continuous innovation, its technological lead, and tight cost control ensure SICK’s leading position in numerous world and application markets.  More information: www.sick.com.

About Scorpion Vision Software
Scorpion Vision Software® is an extremely robust and accurate 2D and 3D machine vision software framework including: integrated python development, .net plugins, 2D toolbox of 100 tools, 2D and 3D visualization, 3D toolbox containing 50 tools, extremely accurate 3D stereo vision, a nice toolset for point cloud processing including ConnectedComponents, PlaneFit, SphereFit, CylinderFit and 3DMaMa™.

Scorpion Vision Software® is an independent and open software tool for industrial vision. The system gives the user the choice of a small form factor of an embedded PC, a Sony SmartCam or the power of an Industrial PC multicore PC. The system is founded on top of a standard Windows XP/Vista/7 PC platform. It is cost effective benefitting from the processing power of the multicore CPU low cost – high quality firewire/usb/GigE cameras and the possibility of connecting multiple cameras to one PC. Scorpion solves tasks within robot vision, label inspection, assembly verification, color identification and gauging.

Download press release with high resolution images.

Read more about Scorpion 3D Robot Vision at tordivelblog

The leading Norwegian manufactures of castings need new technology to meet the international competition and the environment-, health- and safety requirements. This implies a considerable emphasis on the development of new technology to enhance the use of automation and robotics in the foundries. The small series production does not allow for unique solutions for individual parts. The main challenge is therefore to develop generic solutions that can be used on several different parts or families of parts.

Considerable focus on R & D has put the foundry industry in a leading position regarding casting- and materials technology. However, high salary costs and lack of working resources has created a need for further development of technology within automation and robotics. The Norwegian foundry industry has put their resources together through a R&D project, called “AutoCast” in order to focus on this development. The goal is to develop state of the art technology that ensures competitiveness of the Norwegian foundry industry.

AutoCast started in 2008 and is going to run for four years. The total budget is 5 MEuro. The project is supported by the Norwegian Research Council.

Tordivel AS, the company behind Scorpion Vision Software, is chosen as the 3D Machine Vision Partner for the AutoCast project.

In 2005 Tordivel decided to move Scorpion from a robust and proven 3D platform. The development has been organized in several R&D projects. The EU-CRAFT consortium 3DMulticam has developed a platform for 3D underwater metrology while the Auto3D project sponsored by the Norwegian Research Council has focused on creating a low-cost complete framework for 3D Machine Vision including stereo-vision, stripe light, 3D visualization, 3D references, doing 3D in 2D images and true 3D processing in point cloud.

The following scenarios must be handled in the AutoCast project:

• Identification and location on a conveyor
• Segmentation and 6DOF location in a Bin

To solve the 3D Bin Picking solution it was obvious that a 3D machine vision solution was needed. After evaluating stripelight, 3D laser scanners and stereo vision, a solution based on three GigE cameras and 3D stereo vision was selected.

The reason for selecting this solution was the following:

• Fast – a part is located in less than 1 second
• Works even if objects are moving on a conveyor
• Low component cost
• Robust and reliable with 3 cameras
• Accuracy

The 3D machine vision technology developed in the Norwegian AutoCast R&D project will keep the Norwegian foundry industry in a leading position regarding casting and material handling. The 3D machine vision part is based on Scorpion Vision Software, off-the-shelf software from Tordivel AS. This concept for accurate, low-cost 3D Bin Picking can be used in a vast number of industries.

The new ACE GigE Cameras are designed to meet the cost demands of analog camera users while offering all of the technological advantages of a digital camera. The cameras provide an extremely small 29 x 29 mm footprint, Power over Ethernet, high-performance features, and very easy integration on both the hardware and software sides.

Extensive Research from 2006

This release contains the extensive results from two large R&D projects started in 2006. The Auto3D sponsored by the Norwegian Research Council NFR aimed to develop a cost effective and easy to use technological platform, including 3D data image acquisition, concepts, methods and software, to obtain and use 3D geometry measurements in the production industry. The cost effective and easy to use technology has already been put to use in 3D Bin Picking and 100% 3D Inspection and gauging in a number of projects.

Locating multiple objects in a point cloud – 3DMaMa™

One of the most challenging tasks in machine vision has been “Random Bin Picking” – RBP. We do not think there is one single solution for this task. Depending on the part shape and more, MonoPose3D, Stereo Vision or 3D imaging can be a solution. We are proud to announce a simple tool called 3DMaMa™ that can locate multiple parts based on a 3D model in a second.

The most accurate and reliable 3D Stereo Vision

In 3D Stereo Vision the 3D accuracy is directly proportional to the system’s 2D accuracy. With Scorpion all tools works with sub-pixel accuracy down to a 20^th of a pixel. The unique PolygonMatch algorithm locates any object shape with the highest accuracy. Scorpion 8 increases the reliability with adding a third or fourth camera. The third camera is used to guarantee that the 3D location is accurate. Our aim is to make Scorpion 3D Stereo Vision the most reliable, most accurate and best choice for 3D Bin Picking.

New in Scorpion 8.0

The following features are under preparation, verification and testing:

• Calibrator3D – 3D chessboard calibration
  • we make the accuracy and flexibility of the Scorpion 3D calibration even better
• MonoPose3D – locates an object in 3D with one camera
  • also used to locate cameras in multi-camera systems
• Support for multiple camera drivers in one Scorpion profile
  • making it easy to combine line scan, area scan, firewire and gigE in one system
• View multiple curves in Curve Window
• CircleSegmentor – fast location of circular and occluded objects
  • Companion RectangleSegmentor tool locates rectangles
  • Locates multiple objects with sub pixel resolution
• Improved Online Help Files – extensive set of sample profiles available
• Numerous improvements to 2D and 3D accuracy
• Enhanced Camera Support
• Python26 support including access to OpenCV
• Best in Class accuracy and robustness with Stereo Vision with up to 4 cameras
• Scorpion SmartCam 3D including MonoPose3D and Stereo Vision
• Updated pricelists with competitive prices
• Windows 7 compatibility

Scorpion Vision Software® Concept

Scorpion Vision Software provides powerful image processing for 2D and 3D applications without the need of programming skills. Applications are developed in a user friendly graphical user interface that can be customised to show various amounts of information and controls to the operator such as html based instruction screens and visual studio style controls using com add-ins. A number of different image analysis tools are available with user selectable outputs. This allows for rapid development from the simplest to the most complex image analysis tasks.

The user interface also has built-in statistics and logging capabilities making it ideal for process control and integrating with manufacturing database systems.

Scorpion Vision Software® is an extremely robust and accurate 2D and 3D machine vision software framework including: integrated python development, .net plugins,  2D toolbox of 100 tools, 2D and 3D visualization, 3D toolbox containing 50 tools, extremely accurate 3D stereo vision, a nice toolset for point cloud processing including ConnectedComponents, PlaneFit, SphereFit, CylinderFit and 3DMaMa™.

Scorpion Vision Software® is an independent and open software tool for industrial vision. The system gives the user the choice of a small form factor of an embedded PC, a Sony SmartCam or the power of an Industrial PC multicore PC. The system is founded on top of a standard Windows XP/Vista/7 PC platform. It is cost effective benefitting from the processing power of the multicore CPU low cost – high quality firewire/usb/GigE cameras and the possibility of connecting multiple cameras to one PC. Scorpion solves tasks within robot vision, label inspection, assembly verification, color identification and gauging.

Contact:
Thor Vollset, Managing Director Tordivel AS
Phone: +47 2315 8700
Email: thor@tordivel.no

Scorpion Vision Software^® is a registered trademark of Tordivel AS. 3DMaMa™ and PolygonMatch™ are trademarks of Tordivel AS.