PEKAT VISION and Datalogic Alternatives: A Factual Comparison for 2026

PEKAT VISION is Czech deep-learning software for quality inspection. Datalogic is an industrial automation company from Bologna, Italy. If you are looking for an alternative to either of them, you should know that both brands have belonged to the same group since 2022. This article summarises what both companies state on their public websites and shows how other delivery models differ. The sources are at the end of the article.

PEKAT VISION and Datalogic are now one group

Petr Šmíd founded PEKAT VISION in 2017. The company is based in Brno. On 21 March 2022, a subsidiary of Datalogic S.r.l. bought the entire share capital of Pekat s.r.o. According to the Datalogic press release, the transaction was worth 16 million euros.

According to the PEKAT VISION website, the two teams together developed the MX-G2000 processor, which combines PEKAT VISION deep learning with Datalogic classical machine vision. Since 2024, AI functions have also been extending into other Datalogic product lines. For this reason, the PEKAT VISION website now also lists Datalogic smart cameras and processors.

What PEKAT VISION offers

PEKAT VISION is visual quality inspection software built on deep learning. According to the manufacturer, most tasks need no programming. According to the manufacturer's public website:

• Modules. Anomaly detection, object detection with classification, surface analysis and text reading (OCR). You can combine the modules and extend them with your own scripts.
• Hardware. The software runs on a PC with an NVIDIA graphics card. The manufacturer recommends at least 6 GB of GPU memory per module for operation and 12 GB for training. It supports Windows 10, Windows 11 and NVIDIA Jetson devices.
• Cameras. It natively supports Datalogic, Basler and Toshiba cameras. It connects other cameras through the GenICam interface.
• PLC connection. Output to Siemens S7 PLCs works natively. Other PLCs need additional programming. For integration, an API for Python, C# and C++ is available.
• Licences. The Runtime licence is a one-time purchase with no expiry and allows only inspection in operation. The Development licence is usually paid annually and also allows training of new models.
• Trial. The manufacturer offers a free feasibility study and a 30-day trial version.
• Own camera. The Alecs smart camera with NVIDIA Jetson Orin and IP67 protection runs PEKAT VISION directly in the camera.

What Datalogic offers in machine vision

Datalogic machine vision is built on smart cameras, processors and the IMPACT software. The PEKAT VISION website lists these product lines:

• P2x and P3x smart cameras. Resolution up to 5 MP, built-in lighting and IMPACT software with more than 100 inspection tools.
• MX-E processors. They connect up to 8 cameras over Gigabit PoE and have 16 digital inputs and 16 outputs.
• MX-G2000 processor. It connects up to 4 PoE GigE cameras. Training and evaluation run on the built-in NVIDIA graphics card without an external PC and without the cloud. Communication over PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and Modbus needs the IMPACT Software Suite package.
• Smart VS sensors. A sensor that learns from examples to tell two states apart, for example OK and NG. The manufacturer states that the algorithms come from PEKAT VISION.

When to look for an alternative

PEKAT VISION sells software licences, and you need suitable hardware for them. An alternative makes sense when your situation is different:

• You do not want to buy and maintain a PC with a graphics card, and you want the hardware included in a monthly price.
• You do not have a person to train and tune the models, and you want the supplier to do this work.
• You want to start on one line without an investment and decide based on results from your own products.

PEKAT VISION fits the opposite situation: you have your own machine vision technician, a line with a Siemens PLC, and you want to own the software through a one-time licence.

Robopipe: camera inspection as a subscription

Robopipe is camera-based quality inspection from Prague. The paid plans include an IP67 camera and an AI PLC control unit as a rental. The Standard plan costs €390 per camera per month and includes 5 model trainings per month. The Pro plan costs €590 per camera per month. It includes unlimited trainings, automatic annotation, a PLC with digital outputs, RS485, EtherCAT and Modbus, and on-site installation. Prices exclude VAT. Robopipe is also available as a free open-source version on your own hardware, for example a Raspberry Pi.

According to the camera quality inspection page, evaluating one part takes 50 ms, and less than one day passes from mounting to the first inspection. Current prices are on the pricing page.

Comparison in one table

How to choose

1. List the defects the system must find and the line cycle time.
2. Decide who will train and maintain the models: your team, an integrator or the supplier.
3. Calculate the costs over three years: licences, hardware, integration and staff time.
4. Test each option on your own OK and NOK parts, not on the supplier's sample parts.

You can find more comparisons in the articles Cognex alternatives and Keyence alternatives.

Sources

All data about PEKAT VISION and Datalogic comes from their public websites (checked on 12 November 2026):

• PEKAT VISION: home page and company information
• PEKAT VISION: contact and company history
• PEKAT VISION: visual inspection software
• PEKAT VISION: frequently asked questions (hardware, cameras, PLC, licences)
• PEKAT VISION: Alecs smart camera
• PEKAT VISION: MX-G2000 processor
• PEKAT VISION: MX-E processors
• PEKAT VISION: P2x and P3x smart cameras
• PEKAT VISION: Smart VS sensors
• Datalogic: press release about the acquisition of Pekat (21 March 2022)
• Robopipe: pricing