MENOU launches robot-assisted visual inspection system for complex-shaped products

MENOU, a provider of AI-powered visual inspection systems, announced on August 4 the development of “MENOU-AiF,” a visual inspection system for complex-shaped products.
The system combines newly developed autofocus technology with the company’s visual inspection AI “Inspection AI MENOU” and a collaborative robot to enable fully automated inspection.
While the adoption of visual inspection AI is advancing on the factory floor, imaging technology capable of capturing the images required for accurate AI-based inspection is also becoming increasingly important.
For complex-shaped products in particular, imaging from a single direction is insufficient to capture scratches and other defects, requiring inspection from multiple angles. As a result, inspection has often been carried out manually by inspectors handling products directly, making automation difficult.
MENOU-AiF uses a Sony’s full-frame camera and incorporates autofocus technology in which AI instantly determines the area to be focused on and captures images at the optimal focal point. Combined with a collaborative robot, the system replicates the inspection movements of a human inspector, enabling high-precision imaging from multiple angles.
The captured image data is then processed by Inspection AI MENOU, enabling seamless automation from image capture through AI-based judgment.
Pilot deployments are already underway, with the system reported to be contributing to labor savings, more consistent inspection quality, and improved productivity.