MERLIC - A New Generation of Machine Vision Software
MVTec MERLIC is an all-in-one software product for quickly building machine vision applications without any need for programming.
It is based on MVTec's extensive machine vision expertise and combines reliable, fast performance with ease of use. An image-centered user interface and intuitive interaction concepts like easyTouch provide an efficient workflow, which leads to time and cost savings.
MERLIC provides powerful tools to design and build complete machine vision applications with a graphical user interface, integrated PLC communication, and image acquisition based on industry standards. All standard machine vision tools such as calibration, measuring, counting, checking, reading, position determination, as well as 3D vision with height images are included in MVTec MERLIC.
Meet MERLIC 5.1
MERLIC 5.1 is released on April 7, 2022 and can be downloaded and installed via the MVTec Software Manager (SOM). An offline installer is also available. Starting with the next MERLIC version, the installation is performed exclusively via the SOM.
Below you can read about the newest features:
Deep OCR
MERLIC 5.1 includes a new tool for optical character recognition, which is based on HALCON’s Deep OCR technology.
Compared to other algorithms, this holistic deep-learning-based approach can localize characters much more robustly, regardless of their orientation, font type, and polarity – and requires significantly less parameter tuning. Recognition performance is further increased by the automatic grouping of characters. This allows the identification of whole words and thus reduces the chance of misinterpretation of similar-looking characters. This new tool does not require the Deep Learning Add-On. It is included in all MERLIC packages, starting with the MERLIC S package.
Support for AI Accelerator Hardware
MERLIC 5.1 includes Artificial Intelligence Acceleration Interface (AI²) plug-ins for the NVIDIA® TensorRT™ SDK and the Intel® Distribution of OpenVINO™ toolkit.
This enables users to benefit from compatible AI accelerator hardware – quickly and conveniently. MERLIC tools using deep learning functionality can thus achieve significantly faster inference times when paired with compatible hardware like NVIDIA GPUs or Intel processors including GPUs, CPUs and VPUs like the Intel® Movidius™ Neural Compute Stick. By expanding the range of supported Intel devices, customers now have even more flexibility in their choice of hardware. By adding support for AI², MERLIC will also benefit from any future plug-ins that integrate new accelerator hardware.
Image Source Manager Improvements
In MERLIC 5.1, selecting and setting the correct camera parameters within the Image Source Manager (ISM) is further simplified.
If a camera is to be set up, the required parameters can now be found much faster. The search for parameters can now be carried out via the ISM GUI, similarly to the search function in the Tool Library. With this search function, the right parameters can be found quickly and easily. In addition, it is now possible to filter for persistent parameters that are stored in the camera, even if the camera is switched off. Furthermore, configurations and image sources can now be renamed in MERLIC RTE Setup. Finally, the connection status of cameras that support this feature is now displayed
Improved Evaluate Expression Tool
With MERLIC 5.1, the "Evaluate Expression" tool has been extended. Now, any number of evaluations can be performed within the same tool.
This reduces the number of required "Evaluate Expression" tools compared to MERLIC 5 and leads to a leaner Tool Flow, especially in more complex MVApps. In addition, it is now easier to link different results.
Test Version: MERLIC for Linux on PC and MERLIC for Arm-based platforms
Starting with MERLIC 5.1, a test version is available for evaluating MERLIC RTE (Runtime Environment) for Linux on PC and for Arm-based platforms.
This means that both embedded devices based on the widely used Arm architecture and Linux alternatives to the typical Windows operating system can now be tested for image processing with MERLIC. This is a first step towards making MERLIC available on additional platforms in the future.
Developing the MVApp is still done on a Windows system with the MERLIC Creator. The application can then be tested on the "new" systems using MERLIC RTE for Arm-based platforms and Linux. Cameras can be set up remotely with the help of MERLIC RTE Setup.
MERLIC 5
MERLIC 5 introduces a new licensing model for greatest possible flexibility. It allows customers to choose the package – and price – that exactly fits the scope of their application. Depending on the required number of image sources and features (“add-ons”) for the application, the packages Small, Medium, Large and X-Large as well as a free trial version is available. This new "package" concept replaces the previous "editions" model.
With the release of MERLIC 5, MVTec’s state-of-the-art deep learning technologies are finding their way into the all-in-one machine vision software MERLIC. Easier than ever before, users can now harness the power of deep learning for their vision applications.
MERLIC 5 includes Anomaly Detection and Classification deep learning technologies:
- The "Detect Anomalies" tool allows to perform all training and processing steps to detect anomalies directly in MERLIC.
- The "Classify Image" tool enables using classifiers (e.g., trained with MVTec's Deep Learning Tool) to easily classify objects in MERLIC.
Get started right away: Watch our Tutorials
MERLIC 5 includes the Image Source Manager (ISM). The ISM detaches the image acquisition source from the tool flow and allows MVApps to be easily copied and executed between different systems without adjustments to the camera settings. Thanks to a graphical user interface, managing and configuring image sources can be done simply and comfortably.
