Design Assistant
Matrox Imaging
Intuitive, versatile, and extendable integrated development environment for machine vision applications
| Solve machine vision applications quickly and easily without writing program code by using an intuitive flowchart-based methodology |
| Choose the best platform for the job within a hardware-independent environment that supports any PC with any GigE Vision or USB3 Vision camera |
| Deploy the same project simultaneously on a rugged and reliable Matrox vision controller and smart camera |
| Tackle machine vision applications with utmost confidence using field-proven tools for analyzing, locating, measuring, reading, and verifying |
| Use a single program for creating both the application logic and operator interface |
| Work with multiple cameras within the same project |
| Rely on a common underlying vision library for the same results with a Matrox smart camera, vision system, or third-party computer |
| Maximize productivity with instant feedback on image analysis and processing operations |
| Receive immediate, pertinent assistance through an integrated contextual guide |
| Communicate actions and results to other automation and enterprise equipmentvia discrete Matrox I/Os, RS-232, and Ethernet (TCP / IP, EtherNet / IP™2, Modbus®, PROFINET®, and native robot interfaces) |
| Maintain control and independence through the ability to create custom flowchart steps |
| Increase productivity and reduce development costs with Matrox Vision Academy online and on-premises training |
| Protect against inappropriate changes with the Project Change Validator tool |
Resources
About this series
Integrated Development Environment
Matrox Design Assistant X
Matrox Design Assistant is an integrated development environment (IDE) for Windows® where vision applications are created by constructing an intuitive flowchart instead of writing traditional program code. In addition to building a flowchart, the IDE enables users to design a graphical web-based operator interface for the application. Since Matrox Design Assistant is hardware independent, you can choose any computer with GigE Vision® or USB3 Vision® cameras and get the processing power you need. This field proven software is also a perfect match for the Matrox 4Sight GPm vision controller or the Matrox Iris GTR smart camera. Matrox Design Assistant gives you the freedom to choose the ideal platform for your next vision project.
| Application design | Create custom flowchart steps | Application deployment | Project templates for quicker start-up | Customizable developer interface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowchart and operator interface design are done within the Matrox Design Assistant IDE hosted on a computer running 64-bit Windows. A flowchart is put together using a step-by-step approach, where each step is taken from an existing toolbox and is configured interactively. The toolbox includes steps for image analysis and processing, communication, flow-control, and I/O. Outputs from one step, which can be images and/or alphanumeric results, are easily linked to the appropriate inputs of any other step. Decision making is performed using a conditional step, where the logical expression is described interactively. Results from image analysis and processing steps are immediately displayed to permit the quick tuning of parameters. A contextual guide provides assistance for every step in the flowchart. Flowchart legibility is maintained by grouping steps into sub-flowcharts.In addition to flowchart design, Matrox Design Assistant enables the creation of a custom, web-based operator interface to the application through an integrated HTML visual editor. Users alter an existing template using a choice of annotations (graphics and text), inputs (edit boxes, control buttons, and image markers) and outputs (original or derived results, and status indicators). A filmstrip view is also available to keep track of and navigate to previously analyzed images. The operator interface can be further customized using a third-party HTML editor. | Users have the ability to extend the capabilities of Matrox Design Assistant by way of the included Custom Step software development kit (SDK). The SDK, in combination with Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2013/2015/2017 enables the creation of custom flowchart steps using the C# programming language. These steps can implement proprietary image analysis and processing, as well as proprietary communication protocols. The SDK comes with numerous project samples to accelerate development. | Once development is complete, the project, with flowchart and operator interface, is deployed either locally or remotely. Local deployment is to the samecomputer or Matrox vision controller as was used for development. Remote deployment is to a different computer, including a Matrox vision controller or a Matrox smart camera. | Matrox Design Assistant includes a series of project templates and video tutorials to help new developers get up and running quickly.These templates serve as either functional applications or application frameworks intended as a foundation for a target application. Templates also permit dynamic modifications, allowing users to tweak functionality at run-time and immediately see the outcome of any adjustments. The project templates address typical application areas, with examples for:Barcode and 2D code reading Presence / Absence Recipes Robot guidance (Pick-and-Place) Dot-matrix text reading (SureDotOCR) | The Matrox Design Assistant user interface can be tailored by each developer. The workspace can be rearranged, even across multiple monitors, to suit individual preferences and further enhance productivity. |
