Virtual Machine Vision in Computer Aided Robotics

In this paper a concept for Virtual Machine Vision is proposed using a commercial Computer Aided Robotics software called RobCad. The system utilizes ideal virtual cameras and lights for the simulation of a real vision system. Sensory data is sent to a vision software for data analysis. The Virtual Machine Vision together with the simulation model can be used to offline programming of a vision system. Experiments have been performed by capturing images of a test piece both in the virtual environment and in a physical experimental rig. To evaluate the concept, image analysis has been performed on these images using the same vision software. The results from the vision analysis of both the virtual and the real images are compared and show good agreement. The proposed system seems to be very promising and further development is ongoing.