Fraunhofer IOF: 3D recognition of transparent objects in less than 1.5 seconds
The automatic recognition of 3D objects with "uncooperative" surfaces is a difficult and slow process. The Fraunhofer IOF has a solution.
A robot uses Fraunhofer IOF's 3D recognition to pick up objects.
(Image: Fraunhofer IOF)
The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (Fraunhofer IOF) has developed a detection system that can measure transparent and black 3D objects more efficiently than previous systems. The goROBOT3D system, which works optically with thermal imaging technology, requires less than 1.5 seconds for a detection process. Previous systems require around 15 seconds for this.
Objects with “uncooperative” surfaces are difficult for conventional optical systems to detect. These include transparent glass and plastics, reflective metals and objects with very black surfaces. Systems that use conventional cameras can only recognize such surfaces with greater effort, many measurement images and a correspondingly high computing time.
The Fraunhofer IOF system also works optically, but uses heat. To achieve this, the surface of the objects to be detected is first heated. Two diffractive optical elements (Diffractive Optical Elements – DOE), which work with lasers, project an irregular thermal dot pattern onto the object. Two thermal imaging cameras each take a single image (single shot). The projection of the dot pattern captured in this way is evaluated by an artificial intelligence (AI) using spatial cross-correlation to determine the three-dimensional object shape.
More reliable object recognition for industrial robots
The now fast recognition of 3D objects with goROBOT3D enables industrial robots, for example, to handle objects with “uncooperative” surfaces. Robots can identify and grip the objects more reliably. In addition, there is no longer any interruption when handling these objects, as the system can already measure and recognize the next object while it is still handling the previous object.
Videos by heise
The researchers at the Fraunhofer IOF promise that the 3D recognition system can be flexibly integrated into a wide range of applications.
The Fraunhofer Institute plans to present the technology at the automatica trade fair for intelligent automation, which will take place in Munich from June 24 to 27, 2025.
(olb)
