FPGA-Implementation of Signal Processing Algorithms for Video Based Industrial Safety Applications

Conventional protective devices as light curtains allow safe but often inconvenient flow of work. Unfortunately uncomfortable safety devices are often bypassed or simply switched off. Consequently, the design of a video based protective device, which avoids inconvenient processing steps is of special interest. The present paper describes favorable combinations of FPGA-hardware and algorithms, which allow safeguarding of work places if several constraints are met. The methods were originally developed for surveillance of press brakes, but it is easily adaptable to different types of machines or work places.