Virtek Vision International is introducing a camera system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and laser projection to detect foreign object debris (FOD). The equipment, which features Iris 3D process monitoring software, uses annotated images to pinpoint FOD on carbon or composite materials in real time so that manufacturing work can be paused while the issue is resolved.
The Canadian company's AI camera system, which it is debuting with demonstrations at the NBAA-BACE show this week, also archives images for future reference. This helps users identify and address recurring FOD risks from real-time reporting to reduce the chance of problems reoccurring.
The camera captures FOD in high-definition, color images, logging the sequence and duration of process steps and creating a digital record. Users can upload the captured images to be used for data reporting and to add to their quality compliance records.
“Ever-increasing amounts of data and machine learning require smart algorithms to detect anomalies and highlight them in real-time,” said Virtek Vision president and CEO Dietmar Wennemer. “Our focus was to make the implementation and use of smart technologies easy and operator-friendly. Humans will make the decisions and information is provided intuitively to make our customers’ factories even more efficient and productive.”