Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), a leading digital solutions provider enabling businesses to intelligently connect data, assets and people, will demonstrate how its portfolio of proven machine vision hardware and software solutions addresses the automation, quality and compliance requirements for electric vehicle and battery inspection at Battery Show Europe, taking place June 18-20 in Stuttgart, Germany. 
Event attendees will learn how deep learning machine vision software, 2D and 3D technology and vision-guided robotics from Zebra and its partner ID Engineering are helping to take visual inspection for quality, safety and compliance to new levels throughout the electric battery manufacturing process.
Deep learning machine vision software and cameras and 3D sensors can be used for cell and cell component inspection, cell stacking, module and pack assembly, and cover-to-tray assembly.
“Electric battery and vehicle manufacturers are leveraging deep learning machine vision solutions to improve the efficiency of industrial automation. Zebra and our partners are providing the solutions to automakers and EV battery suppliers,” said Rudolf Schambeck, senior manager, machine vision, Germany, Zebra Technologies. “These solutions excel in electric battery use cases that require more advanced inspection of surfaces and fabrics such as car seats and interiors, anomaly detection, classification, segmentation and robotic guidance across a wide range of variations.”
Electric batteries are at the heart of the transition to electric vehicles, and researchers are investigating new advances based on current lithium compositions, such as solid-state and sodium-ion batteries, that could enable batteries that are more compact, charge faster and are lighter.
A range of cutting-edge technologies are required to support these developments throughout the supply chain, ensure quality and compliance of materials, components and assembled batteries, and minimise production line downtime.
“We are working with a supplier to a global automaker that produces premium, high-performance vehicles that is using Zebra's Aurora deep learning software as part of its electric battery inspection and assembly solution,” said Tobias Buscheid, chief operating officer at ID Engineering, who will be present at the Zebra booth. “In a competitive industry with regulatory, consumer and environmental requirements and expectations, it is essential that electric battery manufacturers work with an experienced partner to provide a reliable solution that delivers the results they need.”
Zebra's 2023 report on AI Machine Vision in the Automotive Industry found that 56% of automotive business leaders surveyed in the UK and 43% in Germany are already using some form of AI, such as deep learning, in their machine vision projects, with an average of around 20% either looking into it more or currently considering sourcing it.
Automakers and EV battery suppliers use machine vision to inspect surface coating uniformity, detect cell defects, read barcodes and serial numbers, ensure consistent placement and application of adhesives and thermal beads, and perform quality assessments on assembled battery packs. Machine vision is also used as part of robotic picking, sorting and assembly solutions, where machine vision cameras and software guide the movements of robotic arms.
Zebra and ID Engineering representatives will be available to speak to media, provide comment and provide demonstrations in Zebra's booth, 4-A19, at the show.
Key Takeaways
- Zebra and ID Engineering will be exhibiting at Battery Show Europe to showcase deep learning machine vision, 3D technology and robotic guidance tools for electric battery manufacturing.
- Automakers and their suppliers are already using these machine vision solutions to meet quality, compliance and safety requirements and consumer expectations.
- The automotive industry wants to work with trusted partners who have the business experience and technology portfolio to deliver the outcomes they need.
