Cognex Introduces Image-based Airport Baggage Handling Identification Solution

Cognex Corp. announced its Airport Baggage Handling Identification Solution (ABH-ID), an image-based automatic tag reader (ATR) system that overcomes the limitations of current laser-based baggage ID systems. 

Air travel is growing 8 percent annually, which is placing a significant burden on current baggage processing systems that have remained relatively unchanged for 30 years. The Cognex ABH-ID Solution uses technology that reads codes that are traditionally difficult to decode and offers high read rates even at critical junctions such as transfer lines, where tags frequently sustain damage from the airplane loading and unloading process.

“Until now, reading transfer tags has been difficult due to damage incurred during numerous handlings of each bag.  We have designed an identification and tracking system that provides the performance benefits of image-based readers that is competitively priced to laser-based systems,” says Jay Bouton, Cognex’s new business development manager, airport baggage handling. “Through field demonstrations on an international transfer line, Cognex was able to boost read rates up to 15 percent above the existing laser readers.”

This new solution from Cognex is especially important because the new International Air Transport Association Resolution 753, starting June 2018, will require all member airlines to demonstrate the acquisition and delivery of baggage at three points of the baggage journey:  load, transfer and arrival. Each time the bag is handled the quality and readability of the tag could be compromised by smearing, scratching or exposure to weather. The ABH-ID Solution offers the ability to quickly and accurately read damaged tags.  Fewer “no reads” means fewer bags miss their flights, which will increase total baggage handling system efficiency, reduce manual encode operations and improve customer satisfaction. 

The Cognex ABH-ID Solution incorporates DataMan fixed-mount image-based barcode readers. The solution also features Xpand technology to fit into space-constricted environments.