Removing Lens Geometric Distortion Through Advanced Image Processing
Lens distortion is a common challenge in machine vision, displacing image data and risking measurement errors and system reliability. Our cost-effective pre-processing solution in-camera or on frame grabber FPGA corrects distortion with zero CPU load and no impact on frame rate.
Understanding lens distortion in machine vision
Lens distortion in machine vision means image information is misplaced geometrically from the ideal shapes. There are two primary types of lens distortions: radial and tangential. And radial distortions usually refer to barrel, pincushion and moustache distortions.
Barrel distortion is commonly associated with wide angle lens (focal length < 50 mm; aperture front structure) while pincushion distortion is common with telephoto lens (focal length> 50 mm, aperture back structure). Mustache distortion is a mixture of both types and less common.
Lens distortion correction is necessary for machine vision applications where accurate and reliable results are crucial. Distorted images may lead to errors in measurements and gauging, affect the performance of machine learning algorithms, and impact the overall reliability of the system.
Challenges in correcting lens distortion
Correcting lens distortion has challenges in both hardware and software approaches.
Hardware: Rectilinear lenses reduce distortion during capture, avoiding post-processing but are costly and limit flexibility in lens choice.
Software: Software correction is more adaptable but resource-intensive, increasing CPU load by 40% and halving frame rates. Developing these algorithms is also time-consuming, requiring expertise in distortion types.
Balancing these challenges is essential for optimal performance and flexibility. In the next section, we’ll introduce how Basler’s solution tackles distortion correction without straining the CPU or affecting your frame rate.
Tackling lens distortion with pre-processing solutions
Your benefits
Real-time processing and low latency: Both in-camera and frame grabber solutions deliver real-time distortion correction with minimal latency.
Flexibility and customization: With multiple solution options, we easily adapt to your specific needs, offering unmatched flexibility for any application.
Faster time-to-market: Accelerate deployment by streamlining implementation and avoiding technical hurdles with our easy-to-configure solutions.
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