Hyperspectral

Makes the almost invisible visible

Where machine vision systems with monochrome cameras reach their limits, hyperspectral cameras are utilized. These create precise spatial images of the inspected objects. Monochrome cameras are not ideal for analyzing surfaces if the objects to be inspected have different molecular structures but the same color. This is the case in the food sector, among others. If, for example, transparent residues in liquid form are to be avoided on packaging, modern hyperspectral image processing systems are used to detect the molecular properties of objects and analyze deviations as defects.

Deeper insights down to molecular level

Hyperspectral cameras considerably expand the spectrum of machine vision, as they also enable deeper insights down to molecular level in the non-visible ranges. Hyperspectral cameras record the light intensity at different wavelengths. The different materials absorb or reflect different wavelengths very characteristically due to their chemical composition. The hyperspectral camera precisely records the spectral signature of the reflected light.

This means that the hyperspectral machine cision system analyzes the molecular properties of the test objects and creates a “chemical fingerprint” of the materials. The ability to analyze more than 100 wavelengths opens up new dimensions in surface inspection that would be inconceivable with conventional systems.

Important areas of application

Important areas of application for this hyperspectral technology include the classification of plastics in recycling and many applications in the food sector. Hyperspectral cameras can reliably and accurately analyze a wide variety of materials that are virtually indistinguishable in real images. Hyperspectral cameras are used in areas such as mining, the pharmaceutical industry and the medical sector. They are also used in precision agriculture, for example when harvesting robots are able to distinguish ripe from unripe fruit based on the spectral signature of the skin.

Hyperspectral cameras also enable measurements to be made at the non-visible, molecular level. They help to ensure flawless appearance and maximum hygiene, e.g. for packaging in the food and medical sectors.