Abstract: Inspection of industrial products entails the “Model Based Design” paradigm with an apparatus associated with a digital clone of the real acquisition system. The digital clone reproduces in a virtual environment the features of said system and of the product affected by anomalies to be inspected. By generating virtual images of the product through simulations on said digital clone and processing virtual images through a vision system including a novel data fusion module, it is possible to define the optimal architecture and parameterization of the real acquisition system that maximize the likelihood of identifying anomalies in products even in conditions that are difficult or expensive to replicate in the real world. This reduces time in designing and set-up as well as costs of an inspection apparatus. Furthermore it enables to reconfigure the apparatus to products and/or anomalies other than those for which it was initially designed.

Abstract: Method for coordinating a plurality of sensors, wherein a plurality of networked computers control the sensors for the purpose of executing one or more services requested through the network. In order to coordinate with one another, the computers exchange information over the network in a manner such that each networked computer knows the characteristics of and the services executed by the other computers. Subsequently, the computers providing the same service execute the same configuration algorithm that defines the tasks to be carried out by each computer as a function of the characteristics of the computers providing said same service. Thus, the computers get to the same conclusions as to the tasks to be carried out, and control the sensors based on the tasks defined by the configuration algorithm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring an environment through a plurality of sensors, wherein a control system receives information from one or more sensors of said plurality and uses said information in order to monitor said environment. The method comprises a setup stage wherein an operator creates a model of an environment by defining a plurality of cells corresponding to areas of said environment, and then creates cell/sensor relationships by defining for each sensor at least one possible position which is associated with at least one cell. For each position the sensor is assigned by the operator a monitoring judgment for the associated cell. The method also comprises an operational stage wherein the control system, in order to perform a surveillance function, finds those sensors which can be used for carrying out the requested surveillance function and controls them based on the monitoring judgments and the cell/sensor relationships.

Abstract: Method for coordinating a plurality of sensors, wherein a plurality of networked computers control the sensors for the purpose of executing one or more services requested through the network. In order to coordinate with one another, the computers exchange information over the network in a manner such that each networked computer knows the characteristics of and the services executed by the other computers. Subsequently, the computers providing the same service execute the same configuration algorithm that defines the tasks to be carried out by each computer as a function of the characteristics of the computers providing said same service. Thus, the computers get to the same conclusions as to the tasks to be carried out, and control the sensors based on the tasks defined by the configuration algorithm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring an environment through a plurality of sensors, wherein a control system receives information from one or more sensors of said plurality and uses said information in order to monitor said environment. The method comprises a setup stage wherein an operator creates a model of an environment by defining a plurality of cells corresponding to areas of said environment, and then creates cell/sensor relationships by defining for each sensor at least one possible position which is associated with at least one cell. For each position the sensor is assigned by the operator a monitoring judgment for the associated cell. The method also comprises an operational stage wherein the control system, in order to perform a surveillance function, finds those sensors which can be used for carrying out the requested surveillance function and controls them based on the monitoring judgments and the cell/sensor relationships.

Abstract: An event detection method for video surveillance systems and a related video surveillance system are described. The method comprises a learning phase, wherein learning images of a supervised area are acquired at different time instants in the absence of any detectable events, and an operating detection phase wherein current images of said area are acquired. The method detects an event by comparing a current image with an image corresponding to a linear combination of a plurality of reference images approximating, or coinciding with, respective learning images.