Computer Vision

Computer vision is an interdisciplinary scientific field that deals with how computers can gain high-level
understanding from digital images or videos. From the perspective of engineering, it seeks to understand
and automate tasks that the human visual system can do.

The use of Computer Vision

Applications in different industries
2
 
 Technology

Computer vision and its hardware market are expected to be a $48.6 billion industry by 2020.
What started as an experiment in the 1950s has emerged as a new market and all the credit
goes to the advances in deep learning and digitization of data coupled by incessantly increasing
computational power.  
As a branch of artificial intelligence, computer vision uses photos, videos, and thermographic
images to train the dedicated algorithms to enhance the accuracy rates of object identification.
Emulating human vision required machines to acquire, process, analyze and understand the
data from the images. As the deep learning neural networks that are capable of iterative
learning got better, training and inferencing stages of computer vision gained accuracy.
Over a decade the computer vision systems progressed from being 50% to 99% accurate. The
reaction span of computer vision algorithms to visual inputs and changes has improved
dramatically which establishes its use in real-time systems across industries. The automotive,
agriculture, pharmaceutical, energy, packaging, linguistics, retail, banking, and other sectors.
In this article, we present the 5 major sectors where the progress has been dominated by
computer vision and its trends. An exhaustive review of the industries establishes the kind of
accomplishments computer vision has achieved.
Computer Vision in Precision Agriculture
Agriculture was among the pioneering sectors that adopted computer vision. Over the decades
of innovation, computer vision has been a major contributor to precision agriculture. Multi-
temporal remote sensing imagery processing, hyperspectral reflectance imaging, and soil
analysis technologies are just the tip of the ice-berg of how machine vision is aiding in yield
mapping, estimation, arable farming and a lot more.
Field Robots powered by machine vision are being deployed to automate the manual tasks of
harvesting, planting, and weeding. Models like Bayesian Classifier is being used for Statistical
and Syntactic Pattern Recognition for optimizing the use of manual labor. The hyperspectral
imaging system is being utilized for phenotyping to ensure the growth of best crop breeds
is propagated. For livestock identification, Support Vector Machines are being used to
identify and monitor livestock.
Machine vision has become an integral part of precision agriculture and opening new horizons
of agricultural efficiency and profitability.
Computer Vision in the Automotive Industry
Right from autonomous vehicles, price-quality wars, and assembly automation, Computer
vision finds a multi-faceted application in the automotive industry.  For self-driving cars,
stereo, and motion analysis, domain adaptation techniques, and more such models are used for
image segmentation.  
To state an example, for avoiding a collision in autonomous vehicles, indistinguishable
features are extracted from source and targets which are then reconstructed and mapped to
make sure the collision is avoided. LiDAR(Light Detection and Ranging) systems are used to
illuminate the target to detect obstacles and lead to safe self-driving.
With the technological advances in image classification and localization using Convolutional
neural networks (CNN) and object detection using R-FCNs and SSDs, the safe self-driving
cars are our future.  
Computer Vision in Healthcare
In healthcare, computer vision has found profound and diverse use cases. Utilizing the models
of image and pattern recognition, the 3D pattern of tumors are built so that the disease can be
targeted in a more profound manner. It requires computer vision models to go beyond
Euclidean data and develop Geometric Deep Learning (GDL).
Such models with the support of hardware have established some biggest breakthroughs.
Identification of cancerous cells from the biopsy reports and recognizing skin tumors more
quickly than dermatologists are the biggest leaps for healthcare.
Utilization of gamification and motion sending to detect strokes or brain abnormalities
promises identification of diseases like Alzheimer’s before they aggravate. Deep learning
algorithms are trained on the basis of specialized imaging techniques to track minute changes
in the brain cells which have remained a challenge for the doctors and researchers over the
decades.
Computer Vision for Security System  
As the precision of Computer vision widened so did its applications in security and
surveillance systems. Computer vision systems are finding its place in cargo inspection,
embassy and military surveillance, hospitals, parking lots, airports and more such public
places.
Acquiring surveillance data is no more a challenge but identifying, processing and
reconstructing requires various models of computer vision. For example, models like the
Hidden Markov Model, Visual Hull Technique, stereo vision, iso-luminance, and 3D template
matching is used for Giat recognition.
Conclusions
Research in Computer vision is aggressively changing industry operations. Impressive
hardware advancement and innovative solutions are improving the world. Trends like synthetic
data, visual question answering, domain adaptation, generative adversarial networks, and 3D
object understanding have been leading to the explosion of computer vision. The utilization is
leading to precision in healthcare and agriculture, cost-effectiveness in manufacturing and
packaging. This multimodal information collection, processing and implications are making
 industries make substantial progress. Some industries have been rapidly adapting to computer
vision implementation while others are waiting at the edge. As technology continues to evolve
and fine-tune, very soon we will see computer vision everywhere. 
NewTechnology

What is computer vision?

As we have already explained in other posts, computer vision systems
acquire information from the environment in the form of images, which can be
of many types, process it and analyze it. To understand it, you can think about
how we understand our environment thanks to our senses. In this case, the
eyes help us to obtain information from the world around us, and vision
systems perform the same task to digitize that information so that it can be
processed by a machine.
To obtain these images, sensors are placed, which can be of different types:
2D cameras, hyperspectral cameras, 3D cameras, etc. All of them provide
us with environmental data that are subsequently processed to obtain the
information we need.
Computer Vision systems are not conceived as an isolated system that is not
related to the rest of the elements of a factory, but rather, they are integrated
with the rest of the processes receiving and sending information.
What are the advantages of computer
vision systems in the industry?
Vision systems allow inspection and quality control tasks to be carried out
that provide improvements to production processes. They allow, detect errors,
carry out a much more exhaustive control, increase productivity and
inspect 100% of the production among many other things.
Next, we tell you some of the advantages of applying computer vision systems
in production lines.
 Increase in productivity: Applying vision systems to control production
means an increase in the quality of the final product. By detecting defective
elements, they can be eliminated from the production process in early stages.
In many cases, this early detection also reduces costs since the defective
product is detected before its value increases.
 Decrease in the loss of materials: If we detect defective elements in
the early stages, we prevent them from continuing in the production chain,
increasing their value and using materials that would later have to be
discarded.
 Cost reduction: By increasing productivity and reducing the loss of
materials we obtain a better use of available resources. This leads to a
significant reduction in production costs that will be reflected in a reduction in
total production costs.
 Better quality of the final product: Lastly and most importantly, the
final product will be of higher quality since inspection and controls will avoid
failures and possible errors in production.
Computer Vision for Retail Stores
Not too long ago, Amazon unveiled a store, where shoppers can
bypass the lines and pay for their merchandise right away.
Computer vision facial recognition cameras are used to let
employees know when something was taken from the shelves,
whether or not it was returned and remove an item from the
shopping cart if it was returned. Also, the cameras track each
person inside the store all times making sure that each shopper
pays for the merchandise they selected and verifying that all
billing transactions are correct. After the shopper has added
everything into their virtual basket, they can simply leave the store
and they will be billed by Amazon later on.

In terms of computer vision in retail fashion, Amazon has

developed a virtual mirror that uses a blended reality display that
places a picture or the customer into a virtual scene and into
virtual clothing. This technology uses facial detection to track the
user’s eye motion since it uses this information to determine what
the user is looking at.

Computer Vision Applications in Banking

The banking has used image recognition software to prevent
fraud by authenticating documents via machine learning. For
example, let’s say that customer wants to deposit a check but
does not feel like making a trip to the bank. All they have to do is
take a picture of the check with their phone or tablet and the
bank’s computer vision software analyzes its authenticity. As soon
as the system has verified the check, it is deposited to the
customer’s account.

While some industries have been ahead of others in terms of

computer vision implementation, we are seeing greater adoption
across the board. However, everything that is available today still
relies on humans to supervise, analyze, offer insights and make a
decision and take action. Even though certain companies are
developing technology that would allow for self-driving cars, the
reported fatality rates demonstrate that it still some time away
from being commercially available. We are seeing the same in
other industries as well where computer science is playing a big
role, but the human factor is still necessary as well. As this
technology continues to evolve and research learn to fine tune it,
soon or later, it will replace humans in pretty much every aspect.

Computer Vision Applications in Banking

The banking has used image recognition software to prevent
fraud by authenticating documents via machine learning. For
example, let’s say that customer wants to deposit a check but
does not feel like making a trip to the bank. All they have to do is
take a picture of the check with their phone or tablet and the
bank’s computer vision software analyzes its authenticity. As soon
as the system has verified the check, it is deposited to the
customer’s account.

While some industries have been ahead of others in terms of

computer vision implementation, we are seeing greater adoption
across the board. However, everything that is available today still
relies on humans to supervise, analyze, offer insights and make a
 decision and take action. Even though certain companies are
developing technology that would allow for self-driving cars, the
reported fatality rates demonstrate that it still some time away
from being commercially available. We are seeing the same in
other industries as well where computer science is playing a big
role, but the human factor is still necessary as well. As this
technology continues to evolve and research learn to fine tune it,
soon or later, it will replace humans in pretty much every aspect.

What is computer vision?

As we have already explained in other posts, computer vision systems
acquire information from the environment in the form of images, which can be
of many types, process it and analyze it. To understand it, you can think about
how we understand our environment thanks to our senses. In this case, the
eyes help us to obtain information from the world around us, and vision
systems perform the same task to digitize that information so that it can be
processed by a machine.
To obtain these images, sensors are placed, which can be of different types:
2D cameras, hyperspectral cameras, 3D cameras, etc. All of them provide
us with environmental data that are subsequently processed to obtain the
information we need.
Computer Vision systems are not conceived as an isolated system that is not
related to the rest of the elements of a factory, but rather, they are integrated
with the rest of the processes receiving and sending information.
ypes of computer vision for each sector
Each sector presents, in general, different cases and needs, therefore, we are
going to tell you, what are the possibilities that vision systems have in some
industrial sectors. Computer vision is already present in many of them and
solves problems of quality, metrology, identification, etc.
 Food industry
In this sector, computer vision is used as a tool for quality control of
products. Hyperspectral vision, for example, allows elements to be classified
by their chemical composition, which is really interesting when it comes to
detecting intruders, in the food packaging phases. On the other hand, it can
also be used to know the quality of the fruits, ripening, diseases, among many
 other things. In addition to hyperspectral vision, traditional RGB vision
systems can be applied in more common applications, code reading etc.

 Automotive industry:
In the automotive industry, computer vision is used mainly for inspections and
quality control in manufacturing, assembly, etc. operations. Flaw detection
applications are also interesting, both in paint and in presses, as they allow
the detection of visual defects in the early stages of production. These
applications are usually based on artificial intelligence algorithms that allow
the classification of images with and without defects.
 Packaging sector
In this sector, computer vision is used to inspect the presence or absence of
markers. Such as, for example, labels, printing of lot numbers or expiration
dates, correct placement of caps or control of the liquid level of the product.

 Electronics sector
In the electronics sector, computer vision is used mainly to inspect assemblies
and the welding of components. In addition, it streamlines the repair and
production processes of defective components. Lastly, computer vision allows
the handling and identification of components quickly and reliably.
 These are just some of the sectors in which computer vision can be applied.
As you can see, the applications can be extended to many other sectors that
can also benefit from the advantages of a vision system.
What are the advantages of computer
vision systems in the industry?
Vision systems allow inspection and quality control tasks to be carried out
that provide improvements to production processes. They allow, detect errors,
carry out a much more exhaustive control, increase productivity and
inspect 100% of the production among many other things.
Next, we tell you some of the advantages of applying computer vision systems
in production lines.
 Increase in productivity: Applying vision systems to control production
means an increase in the quality of the final product. By detecting defective
elements, they can be eliminated from the production process in early stages.
In many cases, this early detection also reduces costs since the defective
product is detected before its value increases.
 Decrease in the loss of materials: If we detect defective elements in
the early stages, we prevent them from continuing in the production chain,
increasing their value and using materials that would later have to be
discarded.
 Cost reduction: By increasing productivity and reducing the loss of
materials we obtain a better use of available resources. This leads to a
significant reduction in production costs that will be reflected in a reduction in
total production costs.
 Better quality of the final product: Lastly and most importantly, the
final product will be of higher quality since inspection and controls will avoid
failures and possible errors in production.
Some applications of computer vision in
the industry
 Computer vision for the detection of defects and quality control: As
we have already told you throughout the post, computer vision systems based
on artificial intelligence are capable, once they have been trained, of detecting
defects. Defects can range from metal cracks, paint defects, burrs, incorrect
prints, and many other options. The defects that they are able to detect can go
down to less than 0.05 mm. Training is carried out by feeding the system
images with the defect and without the defect.
 Metrology: With computer vision, measurements of up to microns of
precision can be made. These applications are performed in both 2D and 3D
using cameras and lasers. The advances that are made in the equipment and
sensors of computer vision allow obtaining images with more quality each
time. For this reason, these types of systems are used for high precision
metrology. With a vision system, down to microns can be measured to detect
defects and positioning in a specific part.
 Intrusion detection: Intrusion detection is used mainly in the food
sector, for example, in a dried fruit packaging line, we can detect if there are
foreign elements such as stones, ceramics, glass and extract them from it.
that will bring quality to the product.
 Code reading: The reading of codes and labels, QR, bar codes, batch
numbers, allow to identify products and allow product traceability throughout
the entire production line.
 Verification of assemblies: Every day more and more complex
assemblies are carried out, with more parts or connections. Computer Vision
allows us to check, step by step, that each piece is in its place, or at the end
of the process, that the final assembly is correct. This application is very
useful for the assembly of machinery, equipment, electronic boards or pre-
assemblies with great complexity. These systems considerably reduce cycle
times for very complex operations and reoperation times.
 What are the advantages of computer
vision systems in the industry?
Vision systems allow inspection and quality control tasks to be carried out
that provide improvements to production processes. They allow, detect errors,
carry out a much more exhaustive control, increase productivity and
inspect 100% of the production among many other things.
Next, we tell you some of the advantages of applying computer vision systems
in production lines.
 Increase in productivity: Applying vision systems to control production
means an increase in the quality of the final product. By detecting defective
elements, they can be eliminated from the production process in early stages.
In many cases, this early detection also reduces costs since the defective
product is detected before its value increases.
 Decrease in the loss of materials: If we detect defective elements in
the early stages, we prevent them from continuing in the production chain,
increasing their value and using materials that would later have to be
discarded.
 Cost reduction: By increasing productivity and reducing the loss of
materials we obtain a better use of available resources. This leads to a
significant reduction in production costs that will be reflected in a reduction in
total production costs.
 Better quality of the final product: Lastly and most importantly, the
final product will be of higher quality since inspection and controls will avoid
failures and possible errors in production.