Across the warehouse , computer vision is a powerful tool for improvement .
Furthermore , computer vision can identify when ergonomic rules aren ’ t being adhered to , an important safety factor in areas with machinery and heavy items . New efficiency opportunities and best practice can be identified and applied in day-to-day work , making certain tasks easier for the workforce . Across the warehouse , computer vision is a powerful tool for improvement .
Computer vision in real warehouse applications As an expert in computer vision , Prime Vision is harnessing this technology in real-world applications , designing and implementing customised systems for specific tasks .
At one Prime Vision customer , operators were using a large parcel sorting machine inside a casing . Over time , debris collected within the casing , which would require the machine to be stopped so that maintenance personnel could conduct a visual inspection to find and remove it . This was a timeconsuming process . To alleviate this , Prime Vision installed a computer vision system underneath the machine that could quickly detect and locate any debris or small parcels that had fallen into the casing . Consequently , removal could be completed faster by staff , helping to promote uptime .
An internal research project involved using computer vision to support a manual sorting system . A complex sorting process was simulated , involving nonconveyable items being moved manually to 40 different locations - an approach that often results in a high number of sorting errors . Prime Vision tested a system to check if specific items were placed in the right cage and provide alerts if an item ended up in the wrong place . Results showed the system ’ s potential to dramatically reduce errors .
Computer vision systems can enhance the operation of a fully automated system too . Many warehouses are trialling the use of robot arms to load individual parcels onto conveyor belts in a logistical equivalent of pick and place . However , as a relatively new application in the sector , sometimes robots can pick up two items at once by accident , causing sorting issues . Computer vision can fix this by identifying when this occurs , providing alerts to operators or the robot , optimising the process .
Eyes on the future Clearly , advancements in computer vision and the increasing ease of access will enable warehouse operators to better monitor , understand and optimise warehouse sorting processes .
There are some considerations going forward though .
First is that warehouses are inherently conservative environments , where adoption of new technologies will be gradual . For example , many operations will continue to run off central processing units ( CPUs ) instead of GPUs because of the high upfront hardware costs of changeover . Big infrastructural changes won ’ t happen overnight , but the capability is definitely here today .
The other factor is privacy . Video surveillance and access to personal images is a complex subject , so any computer vision system needs to be focused solely on tracking objects and processes , not people . There are various solutions to achieve this , such as blurring out images , using black box AI systems with no visibility or positioning cameras accordingly .
If these conditions are met , computer vision offers the possibility to act as a helpful assistant to warehouse operators , making work easier and crucially , more efficient .
More from Prime Vision : https :// primevision . com / looking-into-future-computervision-opportunities-forwarehouse-logistics /
primevision . com | info @ primevision . com | Tel + 31 15 219 2090
104 PECM Issue 72