Cognex has announced “the ultimate vision system” that, it says, will make it much easier for users to deploy vision systems. The In-Sight 7000 smart camera offers powerful vision tools, the ability to power and control external lighting, and enough I/O capacity (three inputs and three outputs) for most inspection tasks, in a compact IP67 package.

“The significance of this new technology cannot be overstated”, says Bhaskar Banerjee, Cognex’s vision systems business manager. “Not only does the In-Sight 7000 deliver proven, reliable Cognex vision technology, but because of its small package size and unique new features, companies can deploy vision systems much more easily than they were previously able to.”

The camera uses the Cognex vision tool library for reliable, repeatable performance even in challenging applications. Inspection, defect detection, guidance, alignment and measurement applications are said to be easy to set up and deploy.

The camera supports Cognex Connect, which offers a wide range of built-in communication protocols that interface directly with it. There are built-in Ethernet and RS-232 serial ports, as well as discrete I/Os, and the camera can communicate directly with most PLCs and robot controllers. Multiple cameras can be managed remotely from a networked PC or HMI, simplifying implementation and cutting costs.

There are many model options, including versions that can capture more than 100 images per second. The ability to power external lighting eliminates the need for external power supplies.