Horus

Objects are instantly recognized and measured in real time ensuring very fast measurement operations.

Synthetic models of multiple objects can be created from images. The software recognizes every object in any position and with whatever rotation within the field of view.

The software can automatically recognize the object and apply its specific pre-defined measurement program. Based on the image, the software searches for all the objects that best fit it, and returns a list of results.

Geometric primitives can be either automatically identified or defined by the operator. This allows for the analysis tools to be easily created with a simple click from within a dedicated set-up window.

This tool is dedicated to measurements on front-illuminated (episcopic) setups. It doesn’t require any time-consuming parameterization and is extremely robust against variations of illumination and contrast. The tool automatically identifies the object primitives, even if scarcely visible or defined by low contrast, in cases where a clear edge extraction would not be easy with standard tools. The resulting measurements are repeatable and stable.

Geometric primitives can be point-by-point controlled by means of statistical tools: point distribution can be checked and used to apply filtering process.

With Horus it is possible to create multiple project files related to the same part. With this method, particularly indicated for multi cameras systems, you can use multiple projects to analyze the same part in different ways, e.g. front view vs top view or side view.

The measured values are stored in a database that is configured so that historical and statistical trends can be easily reviewed and consulted. Data can be read, modified, exported in CSV format and the reports can be printed. Other export formats can be developed upon request.

Creating dimensions, geometric shapes and any other feature is always guided by descriptions and commands suggested graphically in the user interface. Horus can easily manage either typical elements of CAD modelling (intersections, axes, perpendicularity and parallelism, etc.) or geometric nominal values and tolerances through automatic or tool-aided creation of dimensional data boxes.

The crosshair function for manual measurements allows for the analysis to be made also in situations where the processing is difficult due to part/environmental conditions and where automatic tools might not be enough. As always, the graphical user interface helps in defining distances, diameters or angles.

Black-to-white transition curves are analyzed and the most appropriate edge placement and position correction is applied using sub-pixel accurate edge extraction. Different edge corrections can be applied to ensure maximum results and to compensate material and shape refraction.

A complete set of advanced tools ensure the calibration and optimization of all the variables of the system in order to achieve high accuracy and consistency. Our calibration procedures ensure maximum measurement constancy over the entire field of view, thus making the measurement much less sensitive to object displacement over the field of view. Lens calibration, light alignment, object plane control and adjustment and autofocusing tools combined with a motorized vertical axis ensure optimum performance by minimizing any measurement issues arising from system asymmetry or misalignment.

Horus supports cameras compliant with GeniCam, GigEVision, USB3 Vision and other main camera standards. Other types of cameras can be very easily integrated upon request.

Horus is compatible with pre-defined motion control units. For best image focusing, the Z-axis is driven and controlled by the application. For CNC-type measurement machines, readout, calibration and control of an XY-stage, can be easily integrated through proprietary or customer specific axis control, together with a fourth axis providing the rotational degree of freedom. Non-standard motion controllers can be integrated upon request.

Horus is compatible with pre-defined illumination control units. The light control tool manages illuminators and specifically ring lights with 1, 4 or 8 sectors. A smart control of multi-sector ring lights is possible, where specific sectors are turned on depending on the part orientation and location on the FoV. Non-standard illumination controllers can be integrated upon request.

Horus is designed to be used with ease even without keyboard or mouse. All menus, functions, filters and tools are right at your fingertips.

Horus comes in 5 different languages: EN, DE, FR, IT, ZH.

Instead of using a checkerboard calibration, with this feature, it is possible to use a plate with circles as a calibration reference, enlarging the possibility of the calibration.

In the example, it is possible to check how the calibration is performed and the adjustment done by the software.

The DXF Camera plugin allows to upload a .dxf file from the local storage and transform it into an analyzable image in Horus. Technical applications become much easier and more time-saving with this tool.

As shown in the pictures, first a .dxf is imported and then the analysis is performed using quotes, tolerances and so on.

As the other tools and features in Horus the access is simple and clear: from the camera setting, select dxf camera and the .dxf file that has to be loaded.

The thread ISO tool has the capability to visualize steps, angles and diameters (internal and external) of a thread just by selecting an area containing the object.

The main difference between THREAD and THREAD ISO is the level of detail, THREAD shows the part faults, THREAD ISO measures every element in the object.

In the detail, it is possible to see how the object is handled by the analysis. Each recognized element is assigned a name, and a value corresponding to the assigned name is entered in the side menu.

Once a gear is detected, the tool shows by default the main parameters into several labels allowing a fast and precise insight.

The thread tool is a plugin that allows to highlight the conformity of a thread. It points out measurements such as distances, diameters or angles, outside the tolerances.

The aim of this tool is to perform a dimensional analysis of O-Rings, reporting the relative dimensions of the external diameter, internal diameter, section and concentricity.

The photometric analysis is executed by hitting the target with a light beam from different shooting angles in order to highlight the presence of riffles on the surfaces.

From this test, it is possible to obtain two types of data: the first one is the joint of the frames from different shooting angles and the second one shows the riffles through a graphical elaboration.

With certain objects, there is a risk of losing focus in areas of the analyzed target. For example, if a strong zoom is used, this can cause areas closer or farther away to become out of focus. The Focus Stacking tool was created to solve this problem by taking and combining multiple images at different zoom levels (the number of images and the zoom level are determined by the user).

The result is a compound of the pictures.

The stitching tool allows to obtain an image that is a stitching of several images. This tool is created for machines with two degrees of freedom, by means of encoders parallel with the object plane. 

One of the features is the possibility to choose the reference coordinates: either the encoder reference or, if these cannot be relied on, an optical reference, called marker which is selected by the user. 

The acquisition could be manual or automatic, whilst the number of pictures taken is always decided by the user. Once the stitching is performed, the resulting image can be used in Horus as a normal input for a new program.

Tielab is a software development kit (SDK) focused on artificial vision projects through which the developer can use all the features and potential of Horus, inside their own application. In particular, Tielab is a flexible tool that allows making the integration of Horus possible inside a custom application, in order to adapt it to the different customer requirements.

Through Tielab it is possible to access the control of devices such as drives, industrial cameras, light controllers and plc. Interact with them with the aim of creating, editing and loading measurement projects, making it, in fact, a perfectly integrated tool within the programming environment.

Moreover, Tielab supports .NET applications such as C#, VB .Net, C++ and F#; in addition, both parallel programming and multitasking are easily implementable in a few lines of code.

Finally, Tielab supports applications written in LabView,  and converts them into elements that can be used within the machine cycle.