2D and 3D Machine Vision Systems Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 - 2026)

The 2D and 3D machine vision systems market was valued at USD 11.14 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 23.5 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 13.32% forecast period 2021 to 2026. According to the Automated Imaging Association, machine vision includes all industrial and non-industrial applications in which a combination of hardware and software components provide operational guidance to devices in the execution of their functions based on the capture and processing of images.

• Machine vision provides machines with a gift of sight, complementing or replacing manual inspection tasks, using cameras and image processing. Machine vision applications range from basic tasks, like presence detection, to real-time inspection and grading tasks in harsh environments.
• Manufacturing firms worldwide realize the benefits of machine vision systems, particularly in areas where redundant tasks, like inspection, should be performed with precision. They are playing an essential role in high-speed production lines and hazardous environments. Some of the significant benefits offered by these systems include increased productivity, reduced machine downtime, and tighter process control.
• Over the year, 2D machine vision system has gained a significant application across the industry, in which the target object image acquired for processing is effectively a flat, 2D plan view. This 2D image does not provide any height information. When utilizing 2D cameras, Z (distance from the camera) is generally assumed. This is not as effective as parts may move, change the size, etc., and then the 2D camera may miscalculate the location. For such reasons, end-user industries embrace 3D systems, which allows for a clean part pick-up with known positional data (X, Y, and Z), despite any disruption.
• Recently, in collaboration with Samsung, researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) programmed the first 2D neural network using materials that are only a few nanometers thick (or less). The materials, often made up of a single sheet of atoms, made it possible for the machine vision processor to capture, store, and recognize more than 1,000 images.
• Organizations across the globe are taking in-depth looks at how Industry 4.0 technologies could help them return to productive operations during the COVID-19 crisis. A survey from Plex Systems, a company that sells an intelligent manufacturing platform, surveyed global businesses to learn about their progress in using Industry 4.0 applications. The results showed that only 24% of respondents adopted smart manufacturing options. However, 22% launched pilots to assess the technological solution’s worthiness.

Key Market Trends

Food and Beverages is Expected to Register a Significant Growth

• The food and beverage sector is one of the most significant markets for machine vision systems owing to growing safety culture and stringent government regulations forcing companies to adopt advance inspection procedures as a part of automation.
• The uniform and systematic application of machine vision in the food industry over the past decade is mainly attributed to continual developments in constituent methodologies, such as image processing and pattern recognition. Moreover, technological advancements have permitted feasible implementation of these machines at lower cost.
• Inspection of food (concerned predominantly with defects or contaminants), quality control, and in some cases, assembly control of more complex foods (pizzas and layer cakes) during the processing of food are some of the major areas of scope where the machine vision systems find applications.
• For instance, chocolate inspection is one such application where machine vision is utilized to control the amount of chocolate that reaches the product. Any change in the amount of chocolate may either increase the cost of the product or break the layer of chocolate, leading to product failure or consumer dissatisfaction.
• The rapid development in the computer technology and improved expectations of the customers and regulatory bodies have boosted the demand for food quality and safety, resulting in the increasing adoption of automated systems in the food industry.

North America is Expected to Hold a Significant Share in the Market

• North America is a substantial market for vendors offering solutions for machine vision. The regional market is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period, owing to the early adoption of automation in the manufacturing and healthcare industries.
• In North America, the sales of machine vision components and systems that provide vision intelligence to robots and other machines increased significantly in 2018, according to AIA, the industry trade group, and part of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3).
• In July 2019, Microchip Technology Corporation introduced its Smart Embedded Vision Initiative. The new ecosystem utilizes Microchip’s low-power PolarFireFPGAs with a series of high-speed imaging interfaces, intellectual property for image processing, and an enhanced ecosystem of outside partnerships. This initiative is designed to bolster machine vision advances for applications such as industrial, medical devices, automotive, and aerospace.
• In November 2019, First Sensor AG collaborated with a Canadian expert to produce image sensors for industrial visual inspection in the field of machine vision. The project has a duration of seven years.
• Beckhoff Automation introduced new TwinCAT Vision software at the US Pack Expo 2019. It adds a comprehensive image processing feature into the range of machine control programming and runtime in TwinCAT 3 (a software system with real-time control). It also enables users to harness the benefits of GigE Cameras on diverse machines and lines without requirements for separate, third-party vision systems.
• Such innovations by vendors, both in terms of hardware and software, are expected to amplify the market demand over the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape

The 2D and 3D machine vision systems market is highly fragmented in nature. Due to the presence of several players, the market has strong competition. The major players in the market are Cognex Corporation, ISRA Vision AG, Keyence Corporation, National Instruments, XIMEA GmbH, Omron Corporation, IDS Imaging Development Systems Gmbh, Canon USA Inc., A&B Software, Datalogic S.p.A, Epic Systems Inc., Sick AG, among others.

• April 2020 - Cognex Corporation introduced the In-Sight D900 embedded vision system. A first-of-its kind solution, the In-Sight D900 features Cognex’s ViDideep learning software inside an In-Sight industrial-grade smart camera. The self-contained system is designed to solve a broad range of complex in-line inspection applications including optical character recognition (OCR), assembly verification, and defect detection.
• August 2019 - IDS planned to expand its USB3 vision camera range by more than 100 models. This means it will integrate the entire range of sony sensors which are already available with GigE Vision. The new cameras can be used with IDS peak, IDS brand-new, hardware-independent SDK.

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