Application of image morphology in detecting and extracting the initial welding position

A method of image morphology in detecting and extracting the initial welding position during the autonomous welding process is described. During the process, firstly visual sensing technology is used to capture the straight seam image, and secondly the image edges are detected by morphological corrosion edge detection algorithm, with which can retain the critical information while filter other interferences effectively at the same time. Then morphological processing algorithm is used to conduct the direction of filter by selecting the multidirectional linear structuring elements and finally get the initial weld position point coordinates with the Hough transform. The algorithm is simple, rapid, self-adaptability with high accuracy for interferences except long lines so as to accomplish the entire process of detecting the initial welding position. It can meet the practical demands of automatic guidance for robotic welding.