Advanced vision guided robotics provide “future‐proof” flexible automation

Purpose – Vision guided robotics (VGR) is a fast growing technology and a way to reduce manpower and retain production, especially in countries with high manufacturing overheads and labour costs. This paper aims to provide information on a new VGR system.Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes the new automation system of the Swedish company SVIA.Findings – Shows that the need to position components to a set pick‐up position is eliminated – the vision system determining the position of randomly fed products by a recycling conveyor system. The vision system and control software gives the robot exact coordinates of the components, which are spread out randomly beneath the camera field of vision, enabling the robot arm to move to a selected component and pick from the conveyor belt.Originality/value – Describes how the modules are easy to utilise when products or production lines change.