Our client’s project required automatic detection of a tracer dye, and measurement of percentage coverage of the dye on a sample. They approached WyeTec having had a less-than-successful experience with a third party software developer, who had failed to realise the project specifications.

Having been previously let down, it was important to gain the trust of our client, and to demonstrate our competence and ability to deliver. It was agreed that a small-scale prototype would be developed to prove the camera integration and detection facets of the project; and if this was successful, the project would proceed to developing production-ready software.

WyeTec demonstrated the initial prototype within 3 weeks, much to the relief of our client, and the go-ahead was given for the production version of the software. This extended and solidified the prototype, featuring multiple camera support and tools for detection of the sample, the tracer, and calculation of percentage coverage.

The application was targeted at a high-volume, cost-sensitive product. To keep works costs down, we elected to build the application on the open-source imaging library OpenCV, for which a developer licence is required, but no run-time licence.

The application was targeted at a low-cost single board computer (SBC) with built-in Arduino GPIO functionality that could be used for issuing trigger signals. Low-cost but high-performance CMOS cameras were sourced, with a manufacturer agreement to supply them "white-label".