Machine vision continues to play a major role in automation and control as products offer better, more reliable performance, ease of useCONTROL ENGINEERING China版权所有, and state-of-the-art features such as smart vision sensors. Investment in well-designed, carefully-planned systems remains strong, and the future points to increasing application of—and spending for—this important and growing technology.

New research shows barcode applications again top the list of machine vision applications, mirroring the 2007 survey.&

nbsp; Robot motion control, howeverCONTROL ENGINEERING China版权所有, jumps to the second spot, pushing product inspection and assebmly guidance down a notch to third and fourth place控制工程网版权所有, respectively. Applications are grouoped into three primary categories, indicated by color on the chart
　　These conclusions reflect the attitudes and opinions of some 135 subscribers who responded recently to an online study by Control Engineering (www.controleng.com) and Reed Research Group (www.reedbusiness.com) that queried them about machine vision product use and preferences. Results of this current survey support many trends identified in the previous study (May 2007), which showed increasing use of machine vision technologies and concerns about setup and installation. Key findings are shown here in the graphs, with more online.

　　Ease of use and performance continue to be the features respondents want most in their machine vision productswww.cechina.cn, matching 2007 results. Increasing in importance since the last survey are ease of set-up (moving from fourth to third) and price (from sixth up to fourth). Technical supoort dropped to fifth (from third last time).
　　Machine vision system products
　　Control Engineering subscribers participating in this research identified, from a list provided控制工程网版权所有, the vendors included here as leading suppliers of machine vision systems and related products. For more manufacturers and distributors, visit www.cesuppliersearch.com. Find system integrators at www.controleng.com/integrators.

　　Spending for