3D Scanning Applications with AT Automation Technology

Previously we’ve introduced AT Automation Technology 3D scanners, which use triangulation – together with precision optics and embedded algorithms – to build a point cloud representation of 3D objects.

AT Automation Technology 3D scanner
– courtesy of Automation Technology

While there are interesting scanning applications in diverse industries, including automotive, food processing, battery production, display inspection, and more, in this piece we focus on the automotive industry. Below we offer a collection of short videos that help to tell the story. Each application utilizes AT Automation Technology 3D laser profilers.

CONTACT US to discuss your application! We have longstanding returning customers who know we like to help you choose the right cameras and components. It’s what we do.

Inspection of brake discs, for surface defects, duration 1 minute 24 seconds:


Inspection of stamped metal parts, duration 37 seconds:


Inspecting asymmetrical objects, duration 50 seconds:


You don’t have to be in the automotive industry to take advantage of AT Automation Technology 3D laser scanning! Food processing, display inspection, battery production – indeed all sorts of 3D applications are enabled or enhanced by laser triangulation approaches to building 3D point clouds for a scanned object, and comparing the scan to the idealized perfect object. The difference calculation determines if the test object is within the defined tolerances.

3D point cloud
From real space to 3D point cloud model – Image courtesy of AT Automation Technology

We have videos for other industries and applications available, and sales engineers who can help guide you to a solution for your particular needs. Call us at 978-474-0044.

1st Vision’s sales engineers have over 100 years of combined experience to assist in your camera and components selection.  With a large portfolio of lensescablesNIC card and industrial computers, we can provide a full vision solution!

IR Applications for AT – Automation Technology IRSX Smart Cameras 

IRSX Series Smart Cameras

“Smart Cameras” for regular machine vision are not new, but a “Smart Thermal camera” is completely new.  Smart cameras attractively reduce or eliminate the need for a computer host, for some applications, putting the image processing onboard the camera.  That can lower costs and/or speed processing by eliminating components and data transfer time. 

AT – Automation Technology provides the IRSX series, bringing smart cameras to the IR space.  

IRSX Series Smart Cameras – courtesy AT – Automation Technology

In this overview, we address in turn each of:

  • Camera attributes
  • Smart camera and communications/control features
  • Example applications

Camera attributes: (physical)

Detector type: Focal Plane Array (FPA), uncooled microbolometer

Range: Thermal measurement range -10°C to +550°C

Precision: Measurement accuracy of +/- 2°C or +/- 2%

ROIs: Supports temperature evaluation based on an unlimited number of ROIs

Rugged: Rugged housing with air purge for the lens

Size: small enough to fit in the tightest of spaces (55 x 55 x 77 mm)

Options: Different models with different resolutions, FoV and frame rates available


IRSX Standards Compliance –
courtesy AT – Automation Technology

Smart camera and communications/control features:

GigE Vision: Complies to the newest GenICam standard

SDK options: Bundled irsxSupportPackage, AT’s comprehensive SDK, includes interfaces to popular third party packages as well

Smart Processing App: Complete functionality to create applications solutions
for a stand-alone operation of camera

Web-based configuration of your measurement task and display of results

IoT communications: Modbus server and client for IoT communication with
external devices


Example Applications: Besides the general purpose ability to monitor industrial infrastructure for early detection of combustion, specific industries taking advantage of IR applications include plastics, iron and steel, food processing, automotive, chemical, oil and gas, and electrical utilities, to name a few.

Do you have warehouses with combustible goods?

Or installations where there is a risk of fire?

Detect and respond to critical conditions BEFORE there’s an outbreak of fire.


Counting, packing, and sorting

Prepared meals: check the sealing of cover foils for defects

Thermal process monitoring during production


Foamed parts: e.g. dashboards: Inline
inspection for voids in the foam layer

Hot stamping: Monitor temperature distribution before and after forming
to optimize product quality


Are you already using IR imaging, and want to know more about how a smart IR camera could enhance existing applications – or innovate new ways to add value to your product and service offering? Or will your first IR application be with a smart camera? Call us at 978-474-0044 and we’ll be happy to learn more about your unique applications requirements – and how we can help. That’s what we do.

1st Vision’s sales engineers have over 100 years of combined experience to assist in your camera and components selection.  With a large portfolio of lensescablesNIC card and industrial computers, we can provide a full vision solution!

AT – Automation Technology 3D Profilers – What makes them different? 

3D laser profiling is widely used in diverse industries and applications.  There are a number of mature offerings and periodic next generation innovations.  So what would it take to convince you to take a look at the value proposition for AT – Automation Technology’s C6 Series?  In particular the C6-3070, the fastest laser triangulation laser profiler on the market.

AT says that  “C6 Series is an Evolution.  C6-3070 is a Revolution”.   Let’s briefly review the principles of laser profile scanning, followed by what makes this particular product so compelling.

3D profile scanning components – courtesy Automation Technology

What are the distinguishing characteristics of each item labeled in the above diagram?

  • Target object: An item whose height variations we want to digitally map or profile
  • XYZ guide: The laser line paints the X dimension; each slice is in the Y dimension; height correlates to Z
  • Laser line projector: paints the X dimension across the target object
  • Objective lens: focuses reflected laser light
  • CMOS detector: array of pixel wells, or pixels, such that for each cycle, the electronic value of a pixel scales with the height value of the geometrically corresponding position on the target object
  • FPGA and I/O circuitry: provide the timing, the smarts, and the communications

The key to laser triangulation is that the triangulation angle varies in direct correlation with the height variances on the target object that reflects the projected laser light through the lens and onto the detector. It’s “just geometry” – though packaged of course efficiently into the embedded algorithms and precisely aligned optics.

The goal in 3D profile scanning is to build a 3D point cloud representing the height profile of the target object.

Laser line reflections captured to create 3D point cloud of target object – courtesy Automated Technology

Speed and Resolution: 200kHz @ 3k resolution. That’s the fastest on the market. This is due to AT’s proprietary sensor WARP – Widely Advanced Rapid Profiling. How does it work?

The C6-3070 imager has on-board pre-processing. In particular, it detects the laser line on the imager, so that only the part of the image around the laser line is transferred to the FPGA for further processing. This massively reduces the volume of data needing to be transferred, but focusing on just the relevant immediate neighborhood around the laser line. Which means more cycles per second. Which is how 200kHz at 3k resolution is attained.

C6-3070 imager’s pre-processing sends just the portion of the image needed, thereby achieving higher framerates – courtesy Automation Technology

Modularity: When Henry Ford introduced the Model T, he is famously attributed to have said “You can have it any color you like, as long as it’s black.” Ford achieved economies of scale with a standardized product, and almost all manufacturers follow principles of standardization for the same reason.

But AT – Automation Technology’s C6 Series is modular by design – each component of an overall system offers standard options. There are no minimum order quantities, no special engineering charges, and lead times are short because the modular components are pre-stocked.

For example:

  • Laser options (blue, red laser class: 2M, 3R, 3B)
  • X-FOV (Field Of View) from 7mm to 1290 mm
  • Single or dual head sensors
  • Sensor parameters offer customizable Working Distance, Triangulation Angle, and Speed

Software: The cameras may be controlled by many popular third party software products, as the are GigE-Vision / Genicam 3.0 compliant. Or you may download the comprehensive and free AT Solution Package, optimized for use with AT’s IR cameras. The SDK is C-based API with wrappers for C++, C# and Python.

Besides the SDK itself, users may want to take advantage of the Metrology Package. The Metrology Package provides a toolset for evaluating measurement results.

Pricing: You might think that a product asserted to be the fastest on the market would come at a premium price. In fact AT’s 3D profilers are priced so competitively that they are often price leaders as well. At the time of writing, they certainly lead on (price : performance) in their class. Call us at 978-474-0044.

1st Vision’s sales engineers have over 100 years of combined experience to assist in your camera and components selection.  With a large portfolio of lensescablesNIC card and industrial computers, we can provide a full vision solution!

10GigE cameras join Teledyne DALSA Genie Nano Series

Teledyne DALSA 10GigE Genie Nano

Derived from 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and adapted to GigE Vision standards, Teledyne DALSA has continued buildout of the Nano series from 1GigE, 2GigE, 5GigE, and now 10GigE.

10GigE Teledyne DALSA Genie Nano – courtesy Teledyne DALSA

The Genie Nano series is now extended from 1, 2.5 and 5GigE with new 10GigE camera models M/C8200 and M/C6200. These are based on Teledyne e2v’s 67Mp and 37Mp monochrome and color sensors. These high resolution sensors generate a lot of image data to transfer to the host computer, but at 10GigE speeds they achieve frame rates to:

  • 15fps – for the 67Mp cameras
  • 20fps – for the 37Mp cameras

There are four new models offered, in color and monochrome versions for each sensor variant. All are GenICam, GigE Vision 2.0 compliant. They are multi ROI with up to 16 x Region of Interest (ROI). The cameras have all-metal bodies and 3 year warranties.

Further, the M/C8200, at 59 mm x 59 mm, is the industry’s smallest 67M 10GigE Vision camera, for those needing high-resolution and high-performance in a comparatively small form factor.

These 10GigE models share all the other features of the Teledyne DALSA Genie Nano Series, for ease of integration or upgrades. Such features include but are not limited to:

Power over Ethernet (PoE) – single cable solution for power, data, and control

Precision Time Protocol (PTP) synchronization of two or more cameras over GigE network, avoiding the need for hardware triggers and controllers

General Purpose Input Output (GPIO) connectors providing control flexibililty

Trigger to Image Reliability (T2IR)

  • Manage exceptions in a controlled manner
  • Verify critical imaging events such as lost frames, lines, or triggers
  • Tag images for traceability
Trigger to Image Reliability (T2IR) – courtesy Teledyne DALSA

Across the wide range of Teledyne DALSA (area scan) cameras shown below, the Genie Nano 10GigE cameras are at the upper end of the already high-performance mid-range.

Genie Nano 10GigE area scan cameras in the Teledyne portfolio – courtesy Teledyne DALSA

1st Vision’s sales engineers have over 100 years of combined experience to assist in your camera and components selection.  With a large portfolio of lensescablesNIC card and industrial computers, we can provide a full vision solution!