Real-Time PCB Assembly Verification Using AR + AI Vision
Case Overview
Industry: Electronics
Solution: META-aivi
A leading industrial PC (IPC) manufacturer implemented META-aivi to guide and verify PCB assembly procedures in real time. The AR + AI vision system supports operators during connector assembly and verifies completed steps against defined standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The Case
Improving PCB Assembly Verification
The customer manufactures industrial computing products based on x86 and RISC architectures, including motherboards, computing systems, panel PCs, computer-on-modules, and IoT-ready devices.
PCB assembly requires operators to install and connect multiple small components and connectors in the correct positions. Operators were trained using instructional videos and completed assembly according to the demonstrated procedures. Finished PCBs then underwent manual inspection to confirm that assembly had been performed correctly.
Incorrectly positioned or connected PCB components can cause assemblies to fail inspection, requiring errors to be identified and corrected before production can continue.
The Challenge
Limitations of Video-Based Training and Manual Inspection
Instructional videos provide operators with assembly procedures but cannot verify whether each step is performed correctly during the actual assembly process.
The small size of PCB connectors increases the potential for misalignment and incorrect connections. These errors may not be identified until the completed PCB reaches manual inspection.
Each completed PCB also required manual inspection, adding another verification step after assembly. Under this process, assembly errors contributed to a reported 3% inspection failure rate.
The manufacturer needed a way to identify incorrect assembly steps during the operation rather than after the PCB reached final inspection.
The Solution
Real-Time AR + AI Guidance for PCB Assembly
META-aivi, Solomon’s AR + AI vision system, provides operators with step-by-step guidance during PCB assembly.
Instructions are displayed on a mounted tablet according to defined standard operating procedures. As operators complete each step, META-aivi verifies the assembly condition and displays an OK or NG (Not Good) result for immediate feedback.
This allows assembly errors to be identified during the workflow instead of relying solely on post-assembly manual inspection.
META-aivi can also support PCB component inspection.
PCB Connector Assembly Verification
META-aivi checks whether required PCB assembly steps have been completed correctly and provides operators with immediate OK/NG feedback. Incorrect connector placement or connection can therefore be identified while the assembly task is still in progress.