ABI Research estimates the market will top $7 billion by 2028
NEW YORK—Machine vision (MV) systems for quality control in manufacturing are becoming ever more essential for manufacturers due to increased regulatory requirements, new manufacturing techniques, and crippling labor shortages, according to a release from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research.
ABI Research recently produced a report that indicates the market is facing a period of significant evolution due to the growing presence of artificial intelligence (AI). Acting as an enabling technology, AI is expected to fuel growth in the quality control machine vision market, which is projected to reach $7.2 billion (U.S. dollars) by 2028, up from $2.3 billion in 2023.
“AI is accelerating and improving the efficiency of the MV market. It increases inspection speeds and enables the movement of quality upstream, and AI systems are more adaptable than traditional software,” said James Prestwood, industrial and manufacturing industry analyst at ABI Research, in the release. “However, although many AI solutions can easily integrate with existing MV hardware and software, making it a low-hanging fruit for manufacturers to leverage, its lack of explainability can be challenging.
“Without this functionality, AI could struggle to make traction in high-regulation markets,” Prestwood continued. “While some AI vendors are making great strides to support their software with explainability functionality, such as Neurala, it is not a standard feature on all solutions yet.”
The MV ecosystem comprises a wide range of vendors. Many—including Neurala, Intel, Google, Landing AI, and Instrumental—specialize in providing best-of-breed components for AI. Others, such as Sony, Teledyne, and Nikon, provide best-of-breed components for cameras. Still other vendors—including Aqrose Technology, Cognex, Basler, Keyence, SICK, Omron, and Elementary Robotics—focus on providing robust end-to-end MV solutions, according to ABI Research.
“For most manufacturers, budget and build complexity will be the defining factor for choosing off-the-shelf solutions and build-your-own with best-of-breed component deployments,” Preston said. “Smaller manufacturers will likely find the greatest use for off-the-shelf solutions due to their lower cost and simpler requirements.”
These findings are from ABI Research’s report, “Industrial Machine Vision Systems: Innovations, Key Players, and Differentiators Driving Quality Management Excellence.” The report is part of the company’s Industrial and Manufacturing Technologies research service, which includes research, data, and ABI Insights.