Cognex Launches a High-Speed AI-Powered Machine Vision System

Cognex has released a complete AI vision system, the In-Sight 3900, which does not require an external PC. Built on AI-capable Qualcomm Dragonwing platforms, the In-Sight 3900 delivers visual inspections for code reading and quality control at four times the speed of previous Cognex vision systems. Users can integrate the In-Sight 3900 with multiple other Cognex products, such as the company’s OneVision software platform, which simplifies scale-up and reduces overall system complexity.

The Cognex In-Sight 3900 provides high-speed, standalone AI vision processing without the need for an external PC. Image used courtesy of Cognex

The In-Sight 3900 Vision System

One of the stand-out features of the In-Sight 3900 series is that no external computer is required. Running this system without a PC enables quick, basic inspections for "go/no-go" type quality-control operations. The system handles all processing internally, thanks to the embedded processor based on the Qualcomm Dragonwing platform.

The In-Sight 3900 enables high-speed image processing, making it four times faster than previous Cognex systems, keeping production lines moving and reducing inspection bottlenecks. It also has built-in AI tools for complex imaging and decision-making at the edges of the manufacturing line. Ultimately, the system can inspect up to 5,000 parts per minute, depending on the complexity and specific inspection tasks.

The In-Sight 3900 features a dual Ethernet architecture that allows for real-time, high-speed communication with PLCs, robots, and motion controllers. Image used courtesy of Cognex

Connectivity, Deployment, and High-Resolution Imaging

While the In-Sight 3900 does not need to be connected to a computer, it can be connected to one, as well as a PLC, using standard Ethernet connections. This connection capability expands the system's functionality, providing a means for data logging and archiving, as well as advanced process control operations.

Users can also pair the camera with Cognex OneVision, a software suite that helps organize and maintain vision systems into a scalable inspection platform. Lighting, camera collaboration, and other such operations are made possible through OneVision. With OneVision, system designers can work with a single unified architecture rather than cobbling together multiple systems and platforms, drastically reducing setup and troubleshooting time.

Besides the embedded processing and high-speed capabilities, the In-Sight 3900 features a 25 MP camera. The high-resolution camera can detect fine details and defects during inspection.

The system features high-resolution imaging to perform complex quality-control inspections at rapid speeds. Image used courtesy of Cognex

High-Speed AI-Powered Vision

While many applications can benefit from an embedded, complete AI vision system, one of the main markets will be code reading. The In-Sight 3900 excels at optical character recognition, even at high speed and on challenging surfaces. Curved, reflective, and other such surfaces are often coded with 1D or 2D codes for inventory and process tracking purposes. The In-Sight 3900 can read and track these codes that other systems may miss.

Code reading is not the only application, and it would be a mistake to think of this system as a fancy code reader. High-resolution images and AI imaging tools enable the camera to perform precision inspection tasks at high speeds. Quality control departments will also appreciate the ability to detect small defects quickly.