In our thoughts on the future of machine vision, we hypothesized that there will likely be fewer interface standards. This is a fairly safe prediction as the G3 (AIA, EMVA, and JIIA) recently formed The Future Standards Forum to minimize overlap between standards.

The emergence of The Future Standards Forum exemplifies the maturing of the machine vision market. In its early days, Machine Vision was simpler: cameras connected to frame grabbers via analog interfaces based on TV standards like CCIR or RS-170. However, in the 1990s, digital interfaces emerged as high-end systems demanded higher resolutions and faster speeds. The problem arose because too many incompatible interfaces quickly flooded the market, which wasn’t beneficial for either customers or suppliers.

Around this time, the idea of Camera Link was born—introduced in the late 1990s, it became the first widely supported digital interface across most camera and frame grabber manufacturers. Even today, Camera Link remains relevant.

However, because Camera Link couldn’t handle long cable lengths without requiring a frame grabber, GigE Vision was developed in 2003. This standard allowed for cables over 100 meters but initially limited the speed to just 1 Gbit/sec—a limitation that became apparent as faster and higher-resolution sensors were introduced.

In 2008, several companies started developing a Camera Link successor internally known as Visilink. But due to the high development effort needed for what was mainly focused on high-speed transmission, this initiative was abandoned. A smaller group of companies led by DALSA continued refining the technology under the name HS Link.

Around the same time, Adimec and EqcoLogic were working independently on a new interface using coaxial cables to transmit image data, communication signals, triggering, and power. After successful demonstrations at the 2008 Stuttgart Vision Show, they formed the CoaXPress consortium.

This was also around June 2009 during the Camera Link committee meeting that teams from HS Link and CoaXPress first learned about each other’s work. They tried to agree on a common standard but failed—by then it had already become too late for collaboration.

The outcome of this situation is that AIA took charge of HS Link (later rebranded as Camera Link HS), while JIIA hosted CoaXPress. This shows how the development of new standards often happens independently, sometimes without prior coordination between industry associations.

Around the same time these developments were taking place, the three major Machine Vision associations—AIA, EMVA, and JIIA—were exploring ways to manage the growing number of competing standards in the market. Through their joint initiative G3, they agreed not to compete on new standards but instead promote those hosted by themselves.

Unfortunately, it was too late for them to prevent the independent development of HS Link and CoaXPress—which had already been created somewhat in competition with one another.

Discussions about preventing conflicts like between Camera Link HS and CoaXPress led to a new initiative: The Future Standards Forum (FSF).

The Future Standards Forum is essentially an extension of G3, dedicated to the exchange of information on standards and technologies within Machine Vision. Its objectives include:

  • Investigating opportunities from emerging technologies and identifying future challenges
  • Recommending the development or evolution of existing standards based on industry trends and user needs
  • Promoting re-use and harmonization of existing standards to avoid overlaps and duplication of effort
  • Collaborating with standard bodies outside the Machine Vision market

In essence, FSF will provide a proactive framework for developing the best possible standards. The first working group is expected to create an overview of current interface standards—existing or in development—and map out roadmaps for future interfaces. Other working groups covering different areas will be established subsequently.

For more detailed technical comparisons between existing interface standards, please refer to our free e-paper available here:

Last Updated: 2025-09-04 19:22:11