VISION DIFFERENCE
Inspection Vision vs. Robot Vision — They are not the same.
Inspection vision judges OK/NG, but robot vision converts recognized positions to robot coordinates and connects all the way to actual pick. The output data type is fundamentally different.
AT A GLANCE
3 reasons robot vision is different
Inspection vision looks at a single aligned part up close and outputs OK/NG. Robot vision operates under fundamentally different conditions — the numbers show the difference.
01 · SHOOTING DISTANCE
Robot arm interference clearance
The shooting distance must be at least 650 mm to accommodate the robot arm's working space. Lighting methods and setup techniques differ significantly from inspection vision.
02 · SHOOTING AREA
Wide area with many parts
Tracks a range 200–400× the part area. Must find pickable positions among many parts in irregular/overlapping/flipped states across a wide FOV.
03 · RESULT IS ROBOT COORDINATES
Found and processed within an 11,250× area
Precise coordinates for Pick
Outputs X/Y/θ coordinates in mm units — not OK/NG. The ability to actually achieve this is what sets robot vision apart.
Which category does your current vision fall into? — 3-question quick diagnosis
Diagnose now →WHY
Why must the two vision types be distinguished?
Both are called "vision" — but the output result itself is different. Inspection vision produces inspection results (1/0). Robot vision produces physical position (X/Y/θ). Because the output data type is different, the same vision system cannot fulfill both roles.
INSPECTION VISION
Outputs inspection result — 1 or 0
Analyzes an image and judges pass/fail. The result is 1 or 0 — a physical signal. It cannot tell the robot where to move.
ROBOT VISION
Outputs physical position — X / Y / θ
Calculates the physical position of a part from an image. The result is X / Y / θ coordinates — used directly by the robot to move to that position. It's position data, not an inspection result.
HOW IT WORKS
How robot coordinates are created from vision
From camera recognition to robot pick command — a 4-stage processing flow.
DIAGNOSTIC
Is your current vision the right type for your robot?
Check with 3 questions. If even one is YES, inspection vision is likely embedded in a robot pick-and-place flow — review is needed.
- 01
Does your vision output only 1/0 (pass/fail signal)?
If YES — If there are no X/Y/θ coordinates, it's an inspection vision system. The robot has no way of knowing where to move and cannot perform a pick.
- 02
Is the camera mounted on the robot arm, or is the shooting distance too short causing robot interference?
If YES — Robot vision requires at least 650 mm of clearance to avoid collision with the arm. Inspection vision designed for close-range shooting cannot meet this requirement.
- 03
Are parts scattered in irregular/overlapping states across a wide area, and do you need to find which ones to pick?
If YES — Inspection vision assumes a single aligned part. Finding a pickable position among many parts in a wide FOV is the role of robot vision.
If the diagnosis is unclear — send us your current system information. We'll review compatibility together.
MISMATCH
What happens when inspection vision is used directly for a robot
Common mismatches seen in the field and their consequences. Designing with robot vision from the start avoids these problems.
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SITUATION
Connecting inspection vision directly to a robot
Result — Only OK/NG output is available — no pick coordinates, so the robot has no idea where to go.
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SITUATION
Passing image coordinates without coordinate transformation
Result — Coordinates are misaligned with the robot coordinate system — constant manual correction needed or risk of collision.
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SITUATION
Inspection vision with no Recipe function
Result — Every model change requires manual condition re-entry, making operation difficult and error-prone.
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SITUATION
Separate operation without integration
Result — Vision, robot, and feeder run independently — trigger and synchronization issues repeat continuously.
START
We'll review whether your current vision fits your robot.
Share your current vision system, robot, and part conditions — we'll review compatibility together.