Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Machine Vision and Artificial Intelligence: Bringing Research and Industry Together at the Modena Technopole

Today, the UniMORE Technopole in Modena hosted the Italian Machine Vision Talk, a conference organised by Messe Frankfurt Italia and promoted by ANIE Automazione, focusing on the evolution of machine vision in the age of artificial intelligence.

At the heart of the event, entitled “Beyond the Pixel: Machine Vision in the Age of AI”, was the growing role of machine vision technologies in manufacturing processes and the opportunities arising from the integration of AI, automation and human expertise. The event was aimed in particular at industrial companies and the manufacturing sector, which are increasingly required to translate technological innovation into practical, efficient and sustainable applications.

The plenary session opened with welcome addresses from Duilio Perna, President of ANIE Automazione and Messe Frankfurt Italia, followed by a speech from UniMORE Rector Rita Cucchiara, highlighting the dialogue between universities and industry on innovation and technology transfer.

The morning continued with a panel discussion entitled “Beyond the Pixel: Machine Vision in the Age of AI”, chaired by Professor Simone Calderara, Full Professor in the Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari” at UniMORE. The discussion brought together representatives from Basler Italy, Baumer Italia, Beckhoff Automation, iMAGE S, VISION and Visionlink, who explored the prospects for machine vision and its applications in industrial settings.

“The event builds on the increasingly close relationship between the University, the Artificial Intelligence Research and Innovation Centre, the local community and businesses, focusing on key areas such as industrial computer vision. Bringing together leading regional and national players in industrial vision systems provides an opportunity to develop a shared, coordinated strategy through which research can drive innovation in real-world applications, with universities playing an increasingly central role. Computer vision has long been one of the core research areas of the AImageLab group in particular, as well as of the AIRI Centre in its industrial applications. On behalf of the entire Centre, I would like to thank the organisers and all the speakers who took part. We look forward to continuing and further developing this journey together,” commented Professor Simone Calderara.

The subsequent Tech Vision Talks, featuring presentations by SICK and Visionlink and contributions from their respective customers, shifted the focus towards practical applications and real-world experiences in the use of machine vision technologies.

The programme covered the entire value chain of these solutions: from the fundamental components required for image acquisition, such as sensors, optics and lighting, to the use of advanced algorithms, Deep Learning and Edge Learning. Discussions also explored generative models and vision-language models, opportunities for integration with advanced robotics, and the challenges involved in ensuring the scalability and operational continuity of AI systems in manufacturing plants.

Alongside technological developments, the event also addressed governance, regulatory compliance, return on investment and the organisational impact of artificial intelligence, including the changing role of human operators in decision-making processes.

The discussions ultimately placed innovation in machine vision within a broader, integrated perspective, highlighting how data quality, system reliability, the ability to integrate these technologies into industrial processes and the development of human expertise are all essential factors in delivering effective AI applications in manufacturing.

Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng