This year marks a significant milestone – not just because it’s the 25th Vision Show, but also as we celebrate Adimec’s 20-year journey together. To reflect on how machine vision has evolved and where it might be headed, click here to explore its origins.

Predictions for the Future of Image Sensors

While CCD image sensors remain relevant in certain machine vision applications, CMOS technology is rapidly gaining ground. In fact, we anticipate that CMOS will eventually dominate across UV/VIS/NIR wavelength ranges. Here are some key developments we expect:

  • Enhanced QE (Quantum Efficiency), noise reduction, and dynamic range improvements
  • Spectral range extensions to cover more UV and NIR wavelengths
  • Miniaturization through smaller pixels (with options for combining them into larger ones)

Additionally, expect integrations like ToF (Time of Flight) combined with high-resolution imaging for depth measurement. Furthermore, System-on-Chip capabilities will become increasingly common.

Regarding other sensor types, we’ll likely see more SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR options emerge in the market.

The Future Trajectory for Machine Vision Cameras

Mainstream cameras are becoming standard equipment. For many factory automation tasks, today’s available resolution/speed combinations already meet requirements, driving manufacturers to focus on reducing costs, minimizing size, and adhering to integration standards.

However, specialized applications still demand higher performance—faster speeds or greater resolutions, broader spectral ranges, or advanced processing features that boost overall system accuracy. This trend is particularly notable as product miniaturization accelerates alongside increasing system throughput demands.

We can look forward to more 3D cameras featuring integrated optics and illumination systems, along with smart cameras offering enhanced flexibility through programmable capabilities combined with built-in optical solutions.

Evolving Digital Interfaces

Mainstream standards from consumer electronics may influence interface design for standard machine vision cameras like USB3 Vision (which is optimized despite its consumer origins).

For specialized applications requiring long-distance communication or extremely high speeds, dedicated “specialized” standards will continue to be essential—even though we might see fewer distinct interfaces overall.

Other innovations include daisy-chained fiber optics and potential wireless video solutions for short-range use cases.

The Decline of Frame Grabbers

In mainstream settings, frame grabber usage is declining due to alternatives like smart cameras or imaging computers with native consumer-level interfaces on standard PCs. However, high-performance scenarios requiring specialized timing-sensitive features or intensive image processing still necessitate dedicated frame grabbers.

For an in-depth look at machine vision’s history and future market trends from our Chief Scientist, Jochem Herrmann, check out this video.

Last Updated: 2025-09-04 19:19:53