Loop Recording Camera - Efficient process monitoring in the industry

Together with a project partner, Fraunhofer IML has developed a Loop Recording Camera - a smart camera for the continuous monitoring of automated processes. The camera records critical events in real time and thus supports precise error analysis. Thanks to its compact design, it can be flexibly integrated into existing systems and significantly improves the efficiency of industrial processes.

Functionality of the Loop Recording Camera

The camera enables seamless documentation of industrial processes through intelligent video and image recording. In the event of a fault - whether due to unauthorized entry into a protected area or unexpected sensor triggering - the camera saves the entire scenario in a ring buffer. The saved recordings can be retrieved and analyzed immediately via a web interface.

A practical example: In an automated assembly line with autonomous robots, a stop can occur due to an interruption in the light barrier. Whether it is a person in the danger zone or a small foreign object - the Loop Recording Camera records the event and enables a detailed root cause analysis.

Advantages of the Loop Recording Camera

• Automated fault detection - Critical events are precisely documented.
• Efficient memory utilization - Older recordings are overwritten in the ring buffer to make optimum use of the capacity.
• Simple operation - The web interface allows flexible adjustment of resolution, exposure time, frame rate and recording duration.
• Integration into existing systems - The camera fits seamlessly into existing sensor ecosystems.
• Reduction of downtimes - Production downtimes can be minimized through precise fault analysis.
• Flexible recording speed - Depending on the process speed, the frame rate can be adjusted to optimize data volume.

Technical implementation & collaboration

Fraunhofer IML took over the project:

• Hardware development & circuit board design for the camera prototypes.
• Software customization for integration into existing industrial systems.
• Optimization of the user interface based on customer feedback.

Our project partner's proprietary framework was integrated into the user interface to ensure optimum user-friendliness. The high demand on the market shows the great potential of the Loop Recording Camera.