Perception System

A Perception System is a complete data processing solution enabling industrial hyperspectral imaging for in-line and at-line purposes.

Based on the Perception Core Technology the Perception System is a complete stand-alone data processing solution. The Perception System can be seen as an adapter interfaced to a hyperspectral camera that standardizes cameras, suppresses disturbing influences and performs hyperspectral pre-processing as well as feature extraction and operation. The output is information extracted per object pixel (per spectra).

The Perception System is a generic data processing system which can be configured for numerous applications. The configuration is performed by our software suit Perception STUDIO. Therefore we paid particular attention on usability of the configuration process.

Once the Perception System is configured it runs in stand-alone mode as an adapter between a hyperspectral camera and a machine. The interface to the machine is a machine vision format. By this the user can generate classifications and decisions based on Chemical Colors. The figures above show, as an example, a sorting application.

Advantages:

Reduction of development times of up to 80% due that the Perception System is generic data processing unit and can be configured for an application instead of programming a hyperspectral application from the scratch. Therefore short Time to Market and quick ROI.

Safety for your know-how. Due a Perception System allows everybody to develop hyperspectral applications there is no need to hire external consultants for the application development. As a consequence no market and customer know-how needs to be shared.

One data processing solution for various cameras. The Perception System is designed in a way that every camera can be abstracted to data processing chain.

Standardized output information. The Perception System provides standardized output information that can be processed with every machine vision solution.

Reproducibility of Applications. Due to manufacturing processes of cameras, every camera, even from the same batch, is slightly different from others. This can influence the reproducibility of an application. The Perception System includes processes to standardize hyperspectral cameras.

Perception System "Industry"

For industrial in-line purposes with the need for very short latency.

The Perception System “Industry” is provided as a 19” industrial PC that performs the whole hyperspectral data processing chain with shortest latency. High performance GPU’s (Graphics Processing Unit) calculate up to 150 million spectral points per second.

Perception System "Lab"

For non-time-critical purposes like in the laboratory or for at-line applications.

The Perception System “Lab” is not real-time capable due all processing steps are calculated on a CPU. Therefore the Perception System “Lab” is of smaller size and weight.

Perception System "Field & Air"

For applications where weight and power consumption must be reduced to a minimum.

Many applications require that the data processing is very robust, light weight and power consumption must be low. Therefore the Perception System can be customized on various platforms according to the customer needs.

Hyperspectral data processing – Functional Modules:

The following illustration allows an overview based on an abstraction through functional modules.

Instrument Abstraction

Dependent on the acquisition technology, data are provided by the instrument (camera) in different formats. This functional module makes an instrument compatible by abstraction of its acquisition technology.

Instrument Standardization

Interferences caused by the acquisition technology are suppressed and hyperspectral data are corrected. These disorders are depending on the chosen instrument hardware. Such disorders could be:

read-out noise
dark current noise
defect pixels
wavelength calibration
...

Disturbing Influence Suppression

Interferences like the non-uniformity of illumination, which are caused by the measuring setup, are suppressed and data are corrected with regards to application relevant needs.

Hyperspectral Pre-processing

Application of typical (scientifically and industrially established) pre-processing methods to hyperspectral data like filtering, derivative, normalization, etc.

Hyperspectral Feature Extraction and Operation

By Hyperspectral features, information hidden in a spectral curve is described by a single value per pixel. This process leads to dimensional reduction e.g. from a 3 dimensional hyperspectral cube to a 2 dimensional feature image.

Advantages:

The description of information by feature values is more specific and more understandable compared to investigation into a spectral curve.
Feature operation often leads to the calculation of new (dependent) features as a function of base features. Often the result is a decision or a class-information like: “spectra are oversteered” or “a spectrum is similar to a referenced material”.

Output Interfacing

Information gained per object pixel is prepared to be compliant to machine vision standard formats.
Supported information formats are:

Color information (3 values per object pixel)
Multiple feature information (n values per object pixel)
Decision information (1 value per object pixel)

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Why should I use Chemical Color Imaging?

SHORT DEVELOPMENT TIMES

Till now every application based on hyperspectral imaging had to be developed from scratch and subsequently coded into dedicated data processing software. This process is time consuming and ties up resources.

A Perception System has encapsulated most processing methods that are known to be well suited for real time hyperspectral imaging in industry. Our customers don’t have the need to develop a data processing system for each application. Instead they are able to configure a Perception System within incredibly short time.

TO BE INTEGRATED INTO EXISTING IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEMS

By using a Perception System hyperspectral cameras can be integrated into the image processing system of your machinery which then is used to classify according chemical properties.

SHORT TIME TO MARKET AND QUICK ROI

By using a Perception System you can use your existing machinery with your existing machine vision system to provide your customers with new solutions, e.g. sorting solutions based on chemical material properties, within a few months.

Due that a Perception System is intuitive configurable by everybody you have very short times to market and consequently a quick return on investment for your unique machinery.

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