Overview of the AOI Fourier System
AOI Fourier is an automatic optical inspection system developed by Energy Waves for quality control of automotive spoilers. It combines machine vision, servo-controlled zoom, color detection, label printing, and custom PC software to inspect and identify products in a single system.
The system verifies the presence and placement of assembly components, identifies the spoiler type and color, and selects the corresponding part number. It then prints a Data Matrix label and checks the label applied to the spoiler against the identified product configuration.
Large Field of View and Detailed Inspection
At the heart of AOI Fourier is a Keyence VS-C500CX vision system equipped with servo-controlled zoom. This allows the system to inspect a field of view of up to 1,300 × 1,300 mm while also reading a 10 × 10 mm Data Matrix code.
The adjustable zoom gives AOI Fourier the flexibility to inspect a large component and examine small identification codes within the same inspection process.
Verification of Assembly Components
AOI Fourier automatically checks the spoiler for the required components and their placement. The inspection includes:
- Presence of foam
- Presence and placement of clips and washers
- Presence of screws
- Data Matrix code reading
- Presence of the product label
These checks help identify missing or incorrectly positioned components before the product moves to the next stage of production.
Automatic Spoiler and Color Identification
The vision system recognizes which of the two supported spoiler types is being inspected. A color sensor identifies the spoiler’s color from nine available colors.
Each combination of spoiler type and color has its own part number. Based on the detected configuration, AOI Fourier automatically selects the corresponding part number, reducing the need for manual product identification.
Label Printing and Verification
Once the spoiler type and color have been identified, the system prints a label with a Data Matrix code containing the corresponding part number.
After the label is applied to the spoiler, the vision system verifies its presence and checks whether it is correct for the detected spoiler type and color. This provides an additional quality check and helps prevent incorrectly labeled products from continuing through production.
Custom Software and Operator Interface
AOI Fourier is controlled by custom software running on a PC. The software brings together the vision system, color sensor, and label printer, coordinating the inspection and product identification process through a dedicated operator interface.
Benefits for Automotive Production
By combining component inspection, product identification, and label verification, AOI Fourier supports consistent quality control across different spoiler variants. Automatic selection of the part number helps reduce manual identification errors, while the servo-controlled zoom enables inspection of both large product features and small codes.