Technology

Innovative technologies for you

Every day at MiCROTEC, we invest in research and development to discover and provide the best solutions for our customers and the entire wood processing industry.

Our advanced technologies

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence, with particular reference to the sub-fields of machine learning and deep learning, aims to create expert systems that makes predictions based on input data previously analyzed by specialists. MiCROTEC’s solutions include processing methods based on cutting edge AI/ML to leverage the possibility of the machine to mimic what an expert expects from the input. This leads to reliable detection results, allowing the system to adapt to a material with highly changeable physical and visible characteristics, like wood.

Computed Tomography (CT)

A computed tomography scan, or CT scan, is a technique used to obtain detailed images of the internal features of an object. CT scans are obtained through multiple X-ray measurements, taken from different angles. Our flagship CT-Log uses computed tomography to enable the full digital reconstruction and virtual grading of entire logs in real time.

X-ray

X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation. Carrying much higher energy than visible light, X-rays can pass through most materials, including wood, fruit, and the human body. X-rays are used to generate images of the internal structures of lumber and logs such as knots, splits and resin pockets.

Laser triangulation

In our scanners, we include dimensional scanning from laser triangulation to digitalize complex 3D shapes, such as the geometry of logs and lumber. The data obtained is used to calculate precise measurements of diameter, length, curvature and taper. Laser triangulation is obtained by pairing a laser source and a camera pointing to an object with a fixed relative angle. Exploiting the reflectance of the laser light on the object surface, the relative distance is calculated using trigonometry.

Stereoscopy

Binocular vision is the type of vision that enables the three-dimensional perception of the surrounding environment. Stereoscopic imaging is the digital equivalent of binocular vision, where depth is reconstructed by combining a pair of images of the same scene taken from a slightly different point of view. MiCROTEC scanners use stereoscopy to obtain a digital reconstruction of three-dimensional scenes and objects.

Hyperspectral Imaging

The human retina collects color information by combining light intensity in three spectral bands, centered respectively in the red, green and blue (RGB) bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. Color representation in the digital world also follows this principle, and in most applications, color images are recorded using a camera that measures color as a linear combination of the same three basic colors (trichromacy or RGB imaging). Naturally, monitors and displays are RGB as well. When it is necessary to record color information more precisely, or if there is a need for higher spectral resolution, we use our proprietary hyperspectral camera to collect color information over hundreds of spectral bands.