Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation IOSB
In the area of inspection and visual inspection, Fraunhofer IOSB has been developing systems and equipment in the field of optical bulk material sorting for 20 years for various tasks from industry, e.g. for sorting dried foodstuffs, heat-resistant and lead-containing glass, plastic and rubber granulates, industrial minerals as well as precious stones and diamonds. The basis for this is the development of optimized material feeding components, the selection of optimal sensor solutions for image acquisition in different spectral ranges and the development of hardware-supported real-time algorithms for image processing and evaluation. Based on material analyses, problem-specific and efficient sensor solutions can be developed for different tasks. One focus of the research is on insufficient or unsolved sorting problems. In the "blackValue" project, a sorting technique based on a terahertz camera and optical sensor technology was developed together with Fraunhofer FHR with the aim of characterizing materials, especially for black plastics. In the "OPNIK" project, methods for optical material characterization based on non-optical material properties were researched by analyzing the motion behavior of individual bulk material particles. In the "Track2Deflect" project, the use of high-speed area scan cameras, as opposed to the currently exclusively used line-scanning sensors, is being researched for optical bulk material sorting. Through the development of real-time capable multi-object tracking, particle-specific motion models can be calculated and used for precise ejection. In the "ALMOS" project, which is also currently underway, the use of ultrasonic actuators for material separation for fine fractions is being researched together with the Fraunhofer IZFP as a precise alternative to the state-of-the-art pneumatic high-speed switching valves.