A smarter approach to machine vision in assembly
Real-time verification at station and end-of-line
Modern assembly lines run shorter cycles with more variants—making manual checks hard to standardize and easy to miss. Atlas Copco delivers consistent, camera-based verification at the station and end-of-line, validating quality-critical steps in real time and documenting them for traceability. The result: fewer escapes, less rework, and more confidence in every release.
Connected inspection inside Smart Integrated Assembly
Atlas Copco's machine vision offering sits within the Smart Integrated Assembly portfolio for tightening, process control and data analytics. Inspection outputs can be reviewed alongside other production signals to speed root cause analysis, stabilise processes and support global rollouts that mirror best practice from one line to the next.
One ecosystem. Integrated components.
V60 Software
- Common software backbone for machine vision at Atlas Copco
- Combines rule-based tools and AI-assisted evaluation in one environment
- Configure once, reuse across stations and plants using standard libraries
- Shorter commissioning and lower engineering effort through standardization
- The outcome - scalable rollouts with consistent verification
Vision over Ethernet portfolio
- Standard components for GigE cameras and industrial interfaces
- Easier deployment and service with simple cabling and less bespoke hardware
- Predictable performance for cycle-time critical stations
- Replicable architectures across plants
Smart Verification
Smart Verification enables fast station-level checks with immediate feedback. When the application benefits from AI, AI Box brings edge inference close to the line, while Vision Cockpit supports guided AI teaching and configuration. Combined with V60, you keep a consistent setup while improving robustness as products evolve.
Scalable verification concepts
Smart Verification
Deploy station‑level checks for component presence, orientation and placement. Smart verification is fast to implement, standardised for repeatability and ideal for quality‑critical steps that benefit from immediate feedback to the operator.
Advanced verification
Handle complex tasks with multiple cameras and mixed evaluation methods. Advanced verification combines rule‑based tools with AI to deal with higher variant diversity, difficult surfaces and changing conditions, while keeping configuration consistent across stations.
Robot-guided End-of-Line (EoL) Quality Gates
Automate final checks with multi‑view inspection and full documentation. Robot‑guided EoL systems capture difficult angles, consolidate results and provide traceability before product release. This reduces manual inspection effort and raises confidence in every unit that leaves the line.
Application cases
Smart verification
Connector Check
In assembly operations, incorrect or partially seated connectors can lead to functional failure and costly rework. With Atlas Copco’s Smart Verification solution, the system verifies connector presence and correct seating and locking at the workstation in real time. This delivers immediate operator feedback that prevents defects from moving downstream and supports consistent rollouts.
Part type classification
Similar-looking parts on production lines can easily be mixed up, causing quality issues, scrap, and rework. Smart Verification analyzes each image and instantly identifies the part type so stations confirm the correct component. This prevents wrong‑part installation without extra manual checks, even when cycle times are tight, and keeps processes running efficiently.
Presence and Absence Check
Small parts like caps, screws, and clips are easy to overlook, especially during short cycle times. With Smart Verification, the system automatically checks for the presence or absence of defined components and highlights any NOK conditions with clear visual cues. This standardizes quality critical inspections and reduces escapes, all with minimal setup effort.
Advanced verification
Hotspot check in battery production
In EV battery production, abnormal heat can indicate defects or safety risks that must be identified early. Using Advanced Verification, combining our V60 SW and thermal cameras we monitor battery components inline and detect hotspots or temperature anomalies against defined thresholds. This enables immediate intervention to prevent overheating, reduce fire risk and avoid defects progressing downstream, while supporting continuous, automated safety monitoring at critical assembly stages.
Cable Sequence verification
Incorrect cable routing or sequence can cause assembly faults, functional failures and time‑consuming troubleshooting. Through Advanced Verification, colour recognition is used in-line to verify the correct order, colour and placement of multi‑wire cables at the workstation. The system adapts to different cable variants and detects sequence errors in real time, preventing hard‑to‑spot mistakes, reducing rework and maintaining stable quality during changeovers.
Engine Assembly quality verification
In high‑mix production environments, visually similar parts can be easily misidentified, leading to wrong‑part installation and downstream disruption. With Advanced Verification, type recognition verifies the correct part variant inline by evaluating key visual features at the station. This enables reliable differentiation between variants, supports fast changeovers, and reduces human error while maintaining consistent quality across high‑speed lines.
Seat inspection
Seat assemblies combine multiple components and variants, making manual inspection time‑consuming and inconsistent. With Advanced Verification, critical seat applications such as connectors, hoses, plugs and identification codes are verified inline for presence, position and completeness. This standardises inspection across stations and shifts, reduces rework, and improves overall consistency while maintaining reliable quality control in seat assembly.
Quality gate
Complex assemblies often require multiple checks that are difficult to perform consistently at a fixed station. With Q‑gate solution, a robot‑guided camera inspects defined features from multiple angles before the product leaves the line.
This supports repeatable final verification across variants, reduces manual inspection effort, and provides traceable inspection results to support release decisions and downstream analysis.
The approach is applied across engine, battery, axle, powertrain, gearbox, motorcycle and end‑of‑line assemblies where consistency, coverage and reliable release decisions are critical.
Vision over Ethernet (VoE) ecosystem
Standard components and replicable architectures
Vision over Ethernet is Atlas Copco’s modular, PC‑based image‑processing platform built on decentralized hardware. The system uses purpose‑designed components that work seamlessly together to deliver powerful performance, flexible configuration options, and a wide range of operational advantages.
One ecosystem. One source of truth.
Atlas Copco connects vision inspection with tightening, process control and production data—giving manufacturers a complete picture of quality. This enables earlier issue detection, faster root-cause analysis and standardized rollouts across lines and plant
Global delivery and support
Atlas Copco provides coordinated solution design, commissioning and service through a global organisation. That means faster rollouts, consistent training and dependable support beyond initial installation.
Typical outcomes
The Atlas Copco roadmap to Smarter Manufacturing
Smart Integrated Assembly is our five step concept for industrial manufacturers looking to transform and implement Smart Factories. It encompasses our ecosystem of tools, hardware, software and services solutions providing unrivalled competitive value in each step of the customers’ product manufacturing cycles. The result is more efficient, flexible, adaptable, and safe manufacturing processes that support reduced downtime, better use of materials and energy and a substantial waste reduction.
With the challenges faced by many manufacturers, we have the solutions to help you turn up the heat on your competitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of applications do the Smart Verification products support?
Smart Verification supports defect detection, variant checks, type recognition and complex classification tasks in automatedproduction environments.
How quickly can Smart Verification be deployed at a workstation?
Smart Verification can be set up in just a few hours. Teams don’t need deep vision expertise— with basic product knowledge, they can configure the system quickly and get it running smoothly.
What interfaces do you support?
Systems supports a wide variety of interfaces to higher-level machine controls such as PLC (Profinet), OPC-UA, and many common robot systems (e.g Kuka, Universal Robots) up to evaluation based on artificial intelligence (REST API).
Can we start without AI and add it later?
Yes. VisionTools supports rule‑based tools from day one. When a task benefits from AI, the AI Box adds edge inference without changing the overall architecture, so the transition is straightforward.
Does it support continuous learning?
Optional retraining is possible to improve accuracy with new data sets.
How is traceability handled?
Inspection results are stored with images and linked to product identity through OCR or code reading. Data can be sent to your MES or quality system to support audits, compliance and continuous improvement.
