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【2020 Solutions】 AI Assistant - Zhihe Technology Develops the World's Smallest Diamond Sorting Machine

How should one inspect diamonds that are only half the size of human hair? The answer is to use AI for the inspection.

Zhihe Technology has developed the world's smallest diamond sorting machine. By integrating AI and machine learning, along with accumulating large sample data, the system becomes smarter, increasing the yield rate from 70% to 96% within two years. Moreover, by incorporating AI technology into the laser cross-cutting machine capable of handling 500-nanometer laser machining optical measurements, it becomes the first laser machine globally implanted with an AI system.

2016年從中國大陸回流的智合科技,是一家專門提供微測距影像量測系統服務的新創公司,其主要的服務項目包括微米級(µm)甚至奈米(nm)級的微測距應用、半導體檢測、鑽石相關產品、高米密度刀具量測及非標準件檢測。

Zhongxuan Li, General Manager of Zhihe Technology, has over a decade of experience in AOI inspection. After returning to Taiwan from mainland China, he established Zhihe Technology. At that time, semiconductor processes evolved from 8 nanometers to 3 nanometers. Due to high difficulty levels in processing, Li saw a significant market opportunity. Plus, AI's development accelerated after Google released the TensorFlow software in February 2017. TensorFlow is an open-source software library for machine learning applications in various perception and language understanding tasks.

World's Smallest Diamond Sorting Machine - Improved Yield to Over 96%

Consequently, combining his expertise in AOI and AI, Li chose the diamond sorting machine as their first proving ground. Zhihe Technology assisted a major industry company specializing in grinding, cutting tools, optics, wafer refurbishment, and other precision industries with automating human visual inspection process of diamond operations. This company's star product, the 'Diamond Disk,' uses diamonds the size of half a human hair. Previously, the company used traditional visual inspection, employing over 80 workers per production line, many of whom were foreign labor or older employees. The process was time-consuming, output was low, and labor costs were high. Most importantly, their semiconductor clients demanded automation, digitization, and increased precision for diamond inspections.

With Zhihe Technology's help, they supported a semiconductor equipment supplier in fully automating their manual diamond inspection process. They helped create the world's smallest AI-equipped diamond sorting machine, increasing the yield rate from below 70% to over 96%, gathering millions of diamond data points per day.

Using AI Technology to Create the World's Smallest Diamond Sorting Machine

▲靠AI技術打造全球最小的鑽石篩選機

運用AOI及AI交互應用,大幅提升鑽石篩檢效率

▲運用AOI及AI交互應用,大幅提升鑽石篩檢效率

此外,智合科技在2019年10月與雷射設備廠商雷科科技共同合作開發雷射十字加工機,簡單說,就是在只有髮絲二分之一的尖點上,打上十字,其精度及準度的要求更高。智合採用AOI方式自動標注,測量位置與角度對位及加工高度,再運用AI訓練位置與角度估算核心,反覆校調後,耗費4個月時間,開發出全球第一台植入AI系統的雷射十字加工機,有了AI技術的加持,讓原有的雷射機價格翻了三倍之多。

智合與雷科科技合作,共同打造全球第一台AI 雷射機

▲智合與雷科科技合作,共同打造全球第一台AI 雷射機

Three brilliant methods to make Auto-AI digital transformation so easy

Zhongxuan Li shared that Zhihe Technology is able to quickly integrate AI technology and develop Auto-AI, allowing enterprises to rapidly adopt and smoothly transition into digital transformation. There are three main methods of implementation:

Method 1, Simplifying training issues with an automated labeling platform: Use cameras to collect data from machine manufacturers, replace manual labeling with automated labeling, and progressively train to improve accuracy. The simpler the problem, the less data is needed for training.

Method 2, Parallel advancement of AOI and AI: In smart manufacturing processes, relying solely on either AOI or AI cannot achieve everything. First, AOI should be used to mark features and distinguish between good and defective parts, followed by AI for labeling and training. Using them in tandem enhances their effectiveness, and as the training data accumulates, the proportion of AOI decreases while that of AI gradually increases.

Method 3, Enhancing the integration capabilities of embedded system peripherals: Establishing new computation platforms (embedded systems or IPC platforms) continuously enhances the computing power of AI, thus lowering the industrial threshold for AI applications.

為降低AI使用門檻與成本,智合科技建立自主開發核心-Auto-AI(又稱為傻瓜系統),目前已經跟國內知名工控電腦大廠進行合作,提供使用者更簡易的AI 使用環境。李忠軒表示,台灣是全球最適合作AI系統的國家,擁有超強的電腦設計能力與系統整合能力,若能再加上軟核心平台,將可大幅提升AI落地應用的實證。

AOI與AI交互並行,將AI應用落地時程大幅縮減

▲AOI與AI交互並行,將AI應用落地時程大幅縮減

智合科技有研發能力相當強的機械控制及AI演算法的專業團隊,主要是公司的薪酬制度不同,智合將70%的利潤分享給員工,讓員工共同享受公司的成長果實,因此能吸引優秀人才投入,即時協助解決客戶痛點,在不更新設備的情況下,藉由AI技術的導入,提升原有設備價值。李忠軒也自許,智合將從純粹業務推銷性質的設備商,轉變成為工業升級服務方案商,並將客戶的滿意度與安全感,轉變成為市場行銷上的卓越口碑。

智合團隊,圖(左一)為總經理李忠軒

▲智合團隊,圖(左二)為總經理李忠軒

「Translated content is generated by ChatGPT and is for reference only. Translation date:2024-05-19」

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【解決方案】AI電眼取代人眼 慧演智能運用AI幫製造業做品管
Using AI vision to replace human vision, Claireye Intelligence uses AI to help the manufacturing industry with quality control

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【解決方案】滴水不漏的智慧工安巡檢 鑫蘊林科Linker Vision的影像分析AI平台 創造巡檢時間從100分鐘降至3秒新紀錄
Watertight smart industrial safety inspection Linker Vision’s image analysis AI platform sets a new record of inspection time reduced from 100 minutes to 3 seconds

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short-term layout, the company will actively cooperate with domestic players such as Hon Hai and TSMC to implement image analysis AI technology in fields such as self-driving cars, smart industrial safety, and smart warehousing robots In the medium to long term, Xinyunlinke will target the United States, Europe, Japan and other countries as its global market layout, establish investment and cooperation partnerships with major international companies such as Microsoft, and replicate its successful experience and promote it internationally Xinyunlinke official website Xie Yuanbao, founder and chairman of Xinyunlinke 「Translated content is generated by ChatGPT and is for reference only Translation date:2024-05-19」

【解決方案】7毫秒內分離人聲 洞見未來科技協助聽損者「聽說更簡單」
Voice Separation in 7 Milliseconds: RelaJet's Future Technology Makes 'Hearing and Speaking Easier' for the Hearing Impaired

One rainy Thursday afternoon near Taipei Arena, the Taipei Experience Center of RelaJet was fully booked with appointments from people with hearing loss eager to try hearing aids made with a voice separation engine For the hearing impaired, having affordable, lightweight, and effective noise-reducing hearing aids is truly a blessing 'We hope to help users in need to hear the world's wonders again' This empathetic expectation by RelaJet's founder and CEO Po-Ju Chen, who is also hearing impaired, illustrates his understanding of the needs of the hearing impaired He hopes that RelaJet's unique voice amplification hearing aid technology will benefit many more people Affordable hearing aids benefit many with hearing loss Founded in 2018 by Po-Ju Chen and his brother Yu-Ren Chen, RelaJet developed a multi-voice separation engine paired with Qualcomm's Bluetooth audio platform, drastically reducing the price of imported hearing aids, typically costing 80,000-100,000 NT dollars, to just under 10,000 NT dollars They aim to develop affordable goods with excellent noise-cancelling capabilities that wirelessly connect to smartphones In its first two years, the company primarily developed the multi-voice separation engine, which significantly improved the noise reduction quality Once equipped with Qualcomm Bluetooth earphone chips, the audio processing time is drastically short, at about 7 milliseconds to enhance main voice projection and reduce ambient noise, less than half the time required by traditional medical standard of 16 milliseconds for hearing aids, nearly 'zero-delay' 洞見未來科技推出平價助輔聽器,大大嘉惠聽損者 Yu-Ren Chen explains that the primary use of Qualcomm chips for edge computing, along with a streamlined algorithm, achieves extremely low latency and better noise reduction The hearing aids can cover 18 channels, whereas traditional hearing aids cover 4-48 channels In the future, RelaJet will progressively increase the number of channels According to statistics, there are 470 million people globally with hearing disabilities, with a 30 average device use rate in developed countries, with the highest in Western countries Taiwan has nearly 15 million people with disabling hearing loss, of which the middle-aged and elderly make up 30, yet the device use rate is only about 10, which is quite low Yu-Ren Chen further analyzes that the low device usage rate is due to two reasons firstly, the high average selling price of international big brands ranges from 80,000 to 200,000 NT dollars with a three-year usability period, which deters many due to the high cost and maintenance Secondly, in noisy environments, the noise is also amplified which does not necessarily ensure clarity for the users, and the sound parameters can't be adjusted in real-time, making it inconvenient to frequently visit stores for tuning Thirdly, most models cannot connect to smartphones, making it inconvenient for the hearing impaired to take phone calls Utilizing Qualcomm Bluetooth chips for 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designs are available According to Yu-Ren Chen, the Otoadd wireless earphones with hearing enhancement functions, model N1, are entry-level neckband style priced at 9,500 NT per pair Users can wear the hearing aid while taking calls, and control noise reduction strength and volume through a mobile app They plan to develop accessories in the future tailored to the needs of older adults Besides being available for trials at experience centers in Taipei and Kaohsiung, this hearing aid is also sold through PChome, Taiwan Mobile's myfone, and Elder Age networks, among other channels Another model intended for individuals with mild to severe hearing loss is the Classic R hearing aid, which received the Japanese Good Design Award in 2021 Since its market debut last year, it has attracted those with congenital hearing loss, with users noting improved clarity in noisy environments and appreciating the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity for calls and watching videos This product is anticipated to be exported to international markets in the latter half of this year Additionally, a hearing aid product combining Bluetooth functionality, set to launch in June this year, is sized like typical Bluetooth earphones, targeting visually conscious consumers with hearing loss Its small size and attractive wireless earphone design allow for phone calls, and if approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, eligible users can apply for government subsidies RelaJet to expand into overseas markets, using the USA as a beachhead An interesting question arises due to the pandemic everyone must wear masks which impedes lip-reading How does this affect those with hearing loss Yu-Ren Chen indicates that this situation highlights RelaJet's advantages As each person with hearing loss has different levels of hearing ability, hearing aids can only augment to an appropriate volume, assisting users to hear about 60-70 content, with the remainder relying on lip reading and gestures During the pandemic, as everyone wears masks, masks also muffle sounds, but RelaJet's voice separation engine can correct and strengthen the separation, making it easier for those with hearing loss to recognize voices Besides the Taiwan market, RelaJet's next stage will be expanding into overseas markets, expecting to obtain ISO 13485 medical device quality management system certification and US medical device approval in 2022 They plan to enter the US market, either under their own brand or through OEM arrangements Apart from the Taiwan market, RelaJet will also enter the US market in the next phase for hearing aids「Translated content is generated by ChatGPT and is for reference only Translation date:2024-05-19」