High Speed Camera: The Detailed Visual Analysis of Fast-Moving Objects
High-Speed Cameras are nowadays capable of addressing varied industrial and scientific measurement and troubleshooting applications.Whether stand-alone systems or attached to a PC-based system, these devices are utilized extensively across various end-use industry verticals that include travel and transport, media and entertainment, and many more. The current CMOS-based cameras re redefining the definition of high-speed. Traditionally, tube-based cameras that operate at 25fps and 30 fps were used in common in the broadcast industry. However, these were replaced by CCD and then by the CMOS-based imaging systems, where the camera designers increased the frame rates of the cameras. Today, the CMOS-based cameras are capable of achieving speeds between 250 fps to 200,000 fps. This broad spectrum of exposure spectrum has allowed to capture images for a range of applications. For example, for developing a low-cost industrial factory automation monitoring system, there might be a requirement of speed lying between 250 to 1000 fps. And this will depend on the speed of the production line.
In applications such as ballistics testing, there will be a requirement of imagers with a higher fps than previously discussed above along with other different considerations for determining the appropriate camera speed. The growing automation in industries is further providing an opportunity for the high-speed camera market to proliferate.
The introduction of machine vision technology has enabled the deployment of high-speed cameras for process monitoring and product analysis in different industries. One of the examples include high-speed cameras are utilized in a system for inspecting the position and orientation of solar cells and thus assists in the determination of chips, cracks, and bus-bar gaps among other abnormalities. Significant product launches by the key market players are further driving the high-speed camera market indicating innovation in the industry. In May 2020, Vision Research Inc, announced the launch of the new high-speed machine vision camera, the Phantom S710. The product offers exceptional frame rates to machine vision applications. Ranging up to 7Gpx/sec throughput. This has the capability of translating more than 7,200 frames per second at 1280 x 800 resolution and over 700,000 frames per second at reduced resolutions. The product contains the extremely popular high-speed camera, VEO710 and utilizes the proven Vision Research CMOS sensor, providing high quality imaging.
In 2018, Delta Electronics Company announced the launch of the advanced Delta Machine Vision System DMV2000 Series. The product series claims to offer a smart and user-friendly high-speed operation interface with a high-precision of up to 12 MB coupled with multi-processing ability. Up to 8 high speed cameras can be connected to the stand-alone systems. The series can be utilized effectively for product quality check, exterior size measurement, counting of finished products, identification check, and other automation processes in different industries namely general automotive industry, automotive, rubber and polymers, pharmaceuticals, food, printing, packaging, metal processing, robotic arm integrated applications, semiconductor, solar energy and several other industries in electronics and manufacturing.
The use of high-speed camera for entertainment applications is further propelling the market growth. For example, nac Image Technology Inc., based in Tokyo, Japan, has been actively engaged in the production of high-speed imaging systems for the entertainment industry, since, its foundation, 1958. The company develops high-quality, reliable, super slow-motion camera systems. Through continuous innovation, the company is capable of building a comprehensive, unique and an innovative product portfolio highly preferred among the sports broadcasters, engineers, and technicians for capturing super slow-motion digital images. Hence, with the increasing number of sports events across the world, the market is projected to grow at a significant pace. However, with the outbreak of the global pandemic, the demand for high speed cameras have reduced with the banning of sports activities causing an impact on the sales of these devices for sports applications.
An increasing interest in choosing photography as a career among a range of individuals, particularly, the younger generation, is further contributing to enhancing the high-speed camera market growth.
Available Products for High-Speed Photography
1. Shimadzu’s HPV-X2 high-speed video camera: The high-speed video camera is capable of capturing events that are hard to see through naked eyes. The product is a conjunction of high sensitivity and speed. Some of the applications include, nanomaterials manufacturing processes, automotive fuel injection process, and printer ink ejection process.
Important product features include: ultra-high-speed recording at 10,000,000 frames per second, high resolution recording at ultra-high speed, larger and clear photosensitivity, high-speed multi-camera synchronized recording and many more features.
2. AOS Technologies, Inc, high-speed camera includes the following products namely AOS 1 High-G High Speed Cameras, AOS 1 Non-High G High Speed Cameras, AOS 1 AIRBORNE High-Speed Cameras, and AOS 1 Long Record High Speed Cameras.
3. LaVision’s High Speed Camera Systems features include full integration and control of multiple high-speed cameras, operation of different camera models in the same multi-camera setup, hyper sampling for engine applications, lens-coupled HS-IRO intensifier for maximum light sensitivity removable camera when not required.
4. Photron high speed camera products involve the FASTCAM NOVA series combining unique CMOS image sensor technologies and comprehensive high-speed digital imaging expertise for various applications. The FASTCA SA series offer high-speed cameras for performance essential for stopping the motion of the fastest moving events via the use of ultra-high frame rates and ultra-short exposure times. The FASTCAM Mini series of high-speed cameras are designed for reliable operations under high-G loads, making them highly suitable for automotive and military applications.
5. Lambert Instruments BV offers a range of high-speed imaging products that include HiCAM, the ultra-fast gated intensified high-speed camera for low light level imaging applications. Other products include the HiCAM Fluo ultra-fast gated intensified high-speed camera for low light level imaging applications. The image intensifier is cooled for minimizing thermal noise.
The Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest-growing region in the global high-speed camera market. The market growth is predicted to increase in the developing economies of the region, particularly China and India, due to the growing consumer electronics industry and the growing demand for high-speed cameras for various industrial processing applications.
