Highlights

EyeSpector, a cooperative enterprise of Vision Components and SAC, has introduced version 1.5 of its drag-and-drop machine-vision sensor family for generic measurement and gauging tasks. The new EyeSpector software adds 20 graphically programmable image-processing functions as well as support for 2-D/3-D calibration and communication with robots. Enhanced communication functions allow for data transfer among several smart cameras and hosts, expanding applicability to multicamera and 3-D applications.

The EyeSpector works with the VC4xxx real-time and network-ready Smart Camera series—including all color, line scan, and megapixel models up to 240 fps.

With EyeSpector, users also can process rotated images and transmit classification results with subpixel accuracy. EyeSpector provides for brightness compensation using histogram algorithms, pattern matching, color measurements (based on RGB or HSI color models), and position compensation (horizontal, vertical, and rotary angles). Advanced users can take advantage of the software’s built-in VB 6.0-compatible Basic interpreter. Base price: $2000. www.eyespector.com.

Flir Systems has announced that it has agreed to acquire a controlling interest in Cedip Infrared Systems, a provider of infrared cameras and stabilized gimbaled systems based in Croissy-Beaubourg, France. Founded in 1989, Cedip manufactures cooled mid- and long-wave infrared cameras for the science and security markets as well as stabilized gimbals for airborne commercial and government applications. Flir manufactures thermal-imaging and stabilized camera systems for thermography and imaging applications.

Controlling shareholders of Cedip have agreed to sell shares representing 67.8% of the share capital of Cedip for approximately $57.1 million. The transaction is subject to various closing conditions, including the authorization of the French Minister of Finance and Economy.

Upon completion of the transaction, Cedip’s infrared camera operations will be integrated into Flir’s Thermography Division. Its Polytech subsidiary (airborne imagery and gimbals) will be integrated into Flir’s Government Systems Division.

“We are pleased to announce this transaction,” commented Earl Lewis, chairman, president, and CEO of Flir. “The Cedip team has an outstanding reputation for designing and manufacturing high-performance cameras and will provide Flir with complementary products and capabilities to help drive growth in key market segments worldwide.” www.flir.com.

Adimec reports that the recent Space Shuttle Endeavour mission relied on the company’s cameras to determine the threat of damage from a gouge in the shuttle’s protective tiles. The damage was caused by debris that broke away from the spacecraft and struck the tiles soon after launch.

Adimec says that to analyze damage and determine if the shuttle would be cleared for landing, the shuttle astronauts took over 1500 high-resolution images with the Adimec camera system. “We are pleased that images from our cameras were able to play an important role in helping the shuttle and crew fly home safely,” said Jay Rice, VP of sales and marketing for Adimec in North America.

Adimec supplied multiple high-performance cameras to NASA; the cameras were coupled to Pleora’s iPORT IP engine, which enabled them to stream high-resolution images to a laptop inside the shuttle over a standard Ethernet link. The imaging system was mounted at the end of the space shuttle’s 50-foot robotic arm and controlled by the crew. www.adimec.com.

The Automated Imaging Association (AIA), an international trade group for the machine-vision and imaging industry, has announced the promotion of Dana Whalls to managing director. Whalls has more than 18 years of experience in marketing, business development, and finance. She has served as marketing and public relations manager for the AIA since 2004.

“In the three years Dana has been with AIA, she has played a pivotal role in our growth to more than 280 member companies in 26 nations. She has helped us expand our research in Europe and Asia, which is critical to our mission to promote machine vision on a global basis,” said Jeff Burnstein, executive VP of the Automation Technologies Council, the umbrella organization governing the AIA and its sister associations, the Robotic Industries Association and the Motion Control Association. www.machinevisiononline.org.

Implementing inspection requires you to find the best way to trigger a camera so your images capture the right information. National Instruments recently published two tutorials on its Web site that address this challenge for FireWire cameras.

Although aimed primarily at users of NI’s LabView and Vision Builder, the tutorials provide a great deal of information that applies to any image-acquisition situation. They describe general triggering concepts, including “free run mode,” which is the default operation of most cameras, along with both hardware and software triggering. In addition, the tutorials provide a summary of the FireWire (IEEE 1394) bus and its isosynchronous and asynchronous operation. Like their analog cousins, FireWire-compliant cameras require an extra signal line to carry the trigger, because the 1394 bus cannot send a trigger directly.

A description of the six conventional triggering modes defined by the standard includes the caveat that not all cameras implement all six modes. Therefore, you must choose a triggering scheme based on the capabilities of the camera for the target application. The tutorials also emphasize the need to account for latency, which defines the time lag between the trigger signal and the actual image capture. A trigger configuration example is accompanied by diagrams that make the explanation more tangible.

The tutorials are basically identical except for the software that they address: “Triggering a FireWire Camera Using LabView on a Compact Vision System” and “Triggering a FireWire Camera Using Vision Builder AI on a Compact Vision System.” www.ni.com.