Most flexible feeding cells are built from parts that were never designed as one system: a feeder from one supplier, a camera and vision software from another, and an integrator in between making the two talk to each other. ARS’s answer is FlexiVision One, a vision system engineered specifically for FlexiBowl and sold as a single package, one supplier, one support line.
Why ARS built it
ARS describe the problem in plain terms: a feeder and a vision system operating as separate, disconnected units, slower integration and longer than expected commissioning, hidden costs that only show up once a project is under way, and vision systems that are either not flexible enough or not fast enough for the job. FlexiVision One is their fix — FlexiBowl and computer vision sold and engineered as one system rather than assembled from two.
What is in the kit
FlexiVision One ships as a complete, ready to deploy package: an industrial camera and lens, a vision controller, a calibration kit sized to the FlexiBowl model, and the software licence to run it. Nothing is sourced separately and nothing has to be matched up by an integrator.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Camera sensor | 5 MP (2448 × 2048 px), IMX264 CMOS global shutter, 2/3″, GigE interface |
| Camera power | PoE (IEEE 802.3af/at) or 12–24 V DC via Hirose cable, ≈3.2 W @ 12 V |
| Lens | C-mount, 35 / 25 / 16 / 12 mm focal length depending on the FlexiBowl model |
| Vision controller | Intel Core i3-1115G4, 8 GB DDR4, 256 GB SSD, Windows 11 LTSC (pre-installed) |
| Controller I/O | 3× Gigabit LAN, 6× USB 3.0, 2× HDMI, 12–32 V DC, 25 W, IP20 |
| Calibration kit | Laser tool (robot-mounted) plus a calibration grid sized to the FlexiBowl model |
Source: ARS Automation FlexiVision One technical training material, 2026.
Key features
- Plug and play. A general purpose vision system with a no-code interface, aimed at cutting commissioning time and setup errors rather than adding another programming layer to the project.
- One place to run the feeder. FlexiVision One controls bowl filling and hopper feed alongside the vision recognition, with an integrated recipe manager rather than a separate PLC program for each.
- Automatic part-guided tuning. Built-in tools help find workable motion and vision settings for a new part, instead of starting every setup from a blank recipe.
- Safety built in. ARS state Safety Torque Off is integrated to PLe (category 4) and SIL 3, without external safety relays.
- Connects directly. TCP/IP communication to robots and PLCs from a web-based interface, without external gateways or custom scripts.
One controller, up to three FlexiBowls
A single FlexiVision One controller manages up to three FlexiBowl units and up to three robots, and supports all FlexiBowl operating modes. That covers a single-cell installation and a multi-feeder line from the same hardware, which matters if a line is likely to grow after the first FlexiBowl goes in.
Options
Toplight and backlight illuminators are available sized to each FlexiBowl model, in white, red or infrared, with an IR filter required on the lens when an infrared light is fitted. For larger installations, an 8-port switch supports multi-device configurations and an IP66 touch screen display (21.5″) can be fitted at the cell.
Who it actually saves time for
ARS frame the value differently depending on who is looking at it, and the framing holds up:
- Line operators get a no-code interface, so reconfiguring for a different part does not need a specialist on site.
- System integrators get less commissioning time on the project, which is margin and on-time delivery rather than a nice-to-have.
- Production managers get integrated recipes and auto-tuning, so a changeover is a recipe load rather than a re-commissioning job.
Where FlexiVision One is the natural fit
ARS point to three situations in particular: a first-time evaluation of flexible feeding, parts with complex geometry or a lot of variety, and projects where fast delivery is a priority. Outside those, a third party vision system already proven on a similar application can still be the right call, and Comtec has commissioned FlexiBowl both ways.
Full FlexiBowl® specifications, the model range from FB 200e to FB 1200 and the three operating modes are on our FlexiBowl® flexible feeding page, including a short section on FlexiVision One itself. If the cell also needs the robot, we supply Stäubli industrial robots from the same engineering team.