Forum with Industrial VISION Days, Scientific VISION Days and VISION Award / Current trends such as synthetic data, 3D Imaging and AI under the spotlight

VISION 2024 not only promises to be bigger, better and more international, but the two presentation stages provided for the Forum programme will ensure an even greater contribution is made to the discussion of key industry issues. Industrial VISION Days, Scientific VISION Days and the VISION Award comprise the three cornerstones of the programme.

Largest forum in the world for machine vision
Industrial VISION Days, jointly organised by VDMA Machine Vision and Messe Stuttgart, is the largest forum in the world for machine vision and recognised as a platform for the comprehensive transfer of expertise in this area. Many of the presentations held this year will once again focus on the topical 3D imaging, hyperspectral imaging/beyond the visible and AI, often accompanied by examples of their application. ‘High-speed' is a hot topic in the world of camera technology. "I'm certainly looking forward to the panel discussion ‘Generative AI for Machine Vision - A Dream Come True?'," says Anne Wendel, Head of VDMA Machine Vision. "The topic of generative AI for machine vision is very important for the industry, especially when it comes to developments such as ChatGPT2. Where the machine vision industry currently stands remains to be seen: have concrete developments already been made in the direction of VisionGPT? What doors will be opened by the use of generative AI in this sector? It will be interesting to see what the experts say and may give us a clue as to what we can expect." In addition to the VDMA Podium Discussion, the VISION Award and the VISION Start-up Pitch Sessions continue to attract high numbers of visitors during the Industrial VISION Days. The 70 plus presentations will be both streamed live and made available on demand online.
Synthetic data subject of current discussion
Right at the top of the agenda for the Scientific VISION Days is the topic of synthetic data. Digital twins, for example, enable the calculation of realistic and high-quality data sets even before a physical setup takes place. This facilitates the correct design of image processing systems and reduces testing on the production plant. The systems are therefore ready for use more quickly. For the application of AI methods, it is the combination of real sensor data with sensor-realistic synthetic data that facilitates data balancing and helps to reduce data distortions. This significantly improves the robustness and accuracy of the methods. "These innovations push the boundaries of the use of AI in machine vision and make this year's Scientific VISION Days a must-attend event for the latest developments in this field," explains Petra Thanner, expert for machine vision and thematic coordination at the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), which is organising Scientific VISION Days in cooperation with Messe Stuttgart.
3D scanning reaching the next level
This year's Scientific VISION Days will also focus on several cutting-edge machine vision technologies. Modern lenses and innovative acquisition methods improve 3D scanning quality by providing the basis for improved reconstructions through clearer and more detailed images. Advances in microscopy enable faster scanning, which improves resolution and speeds up analysis. New solutions also optimise the imaging of transparent materials and ensure more reliable data collection. In addition, the application of 3D scanning technology is being extended to areas such as welding and microscopy, significantly improving quality control and precision. "These advances are driving the further development of image processing and opening up new possibilities for various applications," explains Thanner.
Award contributions of high technological excellence
The VISION Award is a special highlight of the Forum programme. The Award for technological excellence in the field of machine vision is presented during the trade fair. All five nominated companies will present their innovation during a one-hour session on 9 October 2024. Warren Clark, Publishing Director of Imaging and Machine Vision Europe, the sponsor of the Award endowed with €3,000, will moderate the VISION Award presentation ceremony while jury member Chris Yates from Vision Ventures will name the overall winner. Yates praised the entries which all demonstrated a high level of technical excellence, addressed a clear need and are capable of offering value to a wide range of end users. "Innovative combinations of optical elements and software have been used to create powerful new sensing capabilities in each of the entries from PxE Imaging, Toshiba Teli, and AIT. Expanding the scope of what can be measured and inspected by vision technology is a key driver of growth, and each of these innovations highlights an attractive new direction," said Yates. "A modular design and deployment philosophy is central to the hybrid switch from Murrelektronik and also the AI vision system of AiRob. Scalable or distributed solution architectures can offer strong benefits to end users, typically reducing maintenance and roll-out costs. Automated quality control of manual operations is also a complex task, but one where AI vision offers a technical solution as shown in the AiRob entry." The short list of the nominated companies and their abstracts can be viewed online.
Turnaround expected
Following a difficult 2023, organisers are optimistic when it comes to VISION 2024 and the future of the sector. "Many industries are counting on machine vision. Both in the traditional production environments and in new fields of application that go beyond the factory. A high standard of quality, productivity and competitiveness, greater autonomy and increased security - these are the decisive factors for machine vision. "VISION 2024, as the world's leading exhibition for machine vision, provides the ideal platform to discover and explore the latest trends and developments - and it will be a strong driving force for this sector!" explains Wendel.

About VISION
The world's leading exhibition for machine vision will be taking place from 8 to 10 October 2024 at Messe Stuttgart. Held every two years, VISION presents the complete range of machine vision technology. In addition to first-rate exhibitors, the trade fair is characterised by its high degree of internationality and a varied accompanying programme.
Further information about VISION in Stuttgart can be found at: www.vision-messe.de