MVTec Software GmbH will launch version 23.05 of the standard machine vision software Halcon on May 23, 2023. The focus of the new release is deep learning methods. The main feature here is Deep Counting, a deep-learning-based method that can robustly count large quantities of objects. In addition, improvements for the training of the deep learning technologies 3D Gripping Point Detection as well as Deep OCR have been integrated into the new Halcon version. With Halcon 23.05, it is now possible to further optimize the underlying deep learning networks, which are already pre-trained on industry-related images, for the user's own application. This allows even more robust recognition rates for Deep OCR applications as well as an even more reliable detection of suitable gripping surfaces for applications using 3D Gripping Point Detection technology. In addition, there are many other helpful improvements, such as the fact that external code can now be integrated into Halcon more easily.

"We are seeing a significant increase in interest among our customers in integrating deep learning methods into their own solutions. When developing the new Halcon version, we oriented ourselves exactly to this. The outcome are new deep learning technologies and further developments that enable customers to achieve even more precise results," explains Jan Gärtner, Product Manager Halcon at MVTec.

Deep learning based counting

With Deep Counting, a feature is available to customers as of Halcon 23.05 that can be used to count a large number of objects quickly and robustly as well as to detect their position. The deep-learning-based technology offers significant advantages over existing machine vision methods: The feature can be deployed very quickly, since only very few objects need to be labeled and trained – both steps can be easily done within Halcon. The technology provides reliable results even for objects of highly reflective and amorphous material. With Deep Counting large numbers of objects such as glass bottles, tree trunks, or food can be counted.

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