Electronics manufacturers and engineers can now eliminate the inefficiencies of manual PCB quality inspections. Leveraging AI-powered image processing on the Microchip PolarFire® SoC Video Kit and SpanIdea’s proven AI models, this cutting-edge solution enables automated, precise detection and localization of missing screws for example, ensuring superior accuracy and operational efficiency.
From Human Imperfection to Artificial Intelligence (AI) Precision
Imagine a master watchmaker inspecting a luxury timepiece with hundreds of identical, tiny gears—each critical to the watch’s function. Though the gears are visible to the naked eye, the sheer repetition of checking everyone for defects or misalignment strains even the steadiest hands and sharpest eyes. Now, picture an AI-powered inspection system designed for watches. It can analyze intricate components at high speed, detect microscopic imperfections and ensure precise alignment—far beyond human capabilities. Similarly, an AI-powered Printed Circuit Board (PCB) inspection system scans each board in seconds, accurately identifying missing screws and defects with bounding boxes—eliminating the need for human expertise or visual inspection.
This is the breakthrough that we achieved by deploying an AI application on Microchip PolarFire® SoC Video Kit. By extracting patches from high-resolution PCB images, classifying these patches as “screw present” or “screw missing,” and overlaying the results directly onto the PCB image, we have revolutionized PCB quality control—eliminating manual effort and enabling a seamless, fully automated inspection process.
By reading this blog post, you will gain insights into:
- How Spanidea’s AI-powered image processing simplifies PCB quality inspection by detecting missing screws
- Why Microchip PolarFire SoC Video Kit is a game-changer for low-power, real-time AI applications
- Real-world performance metrics that demonstrate speed, accuracy and efficiency of defect detection in high-volume production environments