Optical inspection tools for the automotive industry

Abstract

This paper deals with two aspects of optical inspection in the automotive industry: machine vision and colour measurement. Machine vision, by smart camera or by personal computer and camera, is used for such tasks as gauging, part identification and presence monitoring. In conjunction with local area networks it facilitates part tracking and quality documentation. Two new colour measurement instruments, a robot‐mounted multi‐angle spectrophotometer and a solid state eight‐waveband instrument, are used to inspect the colour on car bodies and sub‐components, respectively.