Probability weighted centroid tracker
First Claim
1. A system for tracking a target comprising:
- (a) an image sensor mounted to a gimbal for acquiring an image, wherein the image includes a plurality of pixels representing the target and a background;
(b) a motor for rotating the gimbal; and
(c) an autotracker electrically coupled to the image sensor and the motor, the autotracker including (i) a probability map generator for computing a probability that each of the plurality of pixels having a particular intensity is either a portion of the target or a portion of the background;
(ii) a pixel processor in communicative relation with the probability map generator for calculating a centroid of the target based upon the probabilities computed by the probability map generator; and
(iii) a controller in communicative relation with the pixel processor for generating commands to the motor based upon the centroid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a system for tracking a target is provided that includes an image sensor mounted to a gimbal for acquiring an image, wherein the image includes a plurality of pixels representing the target and a background. The system further includes a motor for rotating the gimbal and an autotracker electrically coupled to the image sensor and the motor. The autotracker includes a probability map generator for computing a probability that each of the plurality of pixels having a particular intensity is either a portion of the target or a portion of the background, a pixel processor in communicative relation with the probability map generator for calculating a centroid of the target based upon the probabilities computed by the probability map generator, and a controller in communicative relation with the pixel processor for generating commands to the motor based upon the centroid.
5 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for tracking a target comprising:
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(a) an image sensor mounted to a gimbal for acquiring an image, wherein the image includes a plurality of pixels representing the target and a background;
(b) a motor for rotating the gimbal; and
(c) an autotracker electrically coupled to the image sensor and the motor, the autotracker including (i) a probability map generator for computing a probability that each of the plurality of pixels having a particular intensity is either a portion of the target or a portion of the background;
(ii) a pixel processor in communicative relation with the probability map generator for calculating a centroid of the target based upon the probabilities computed by the probability map generator; and
(iii) a controller in communicative relation with the pixel processor for generating commands to the motor based upon the centroid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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11. A method of transitioning an imaging target tracker from an initialization mode to a tracking mode comprising the steps of:
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(a) maintaining an image sensor on the target through manual manipulation of the image sensor;
(b) centering a plurality of gates on an image detected by the image sensor, the image being made up of a plurality of pixels;
(c) selecting a range of consecutive intensities for the plurality of pixels that have a probability of representing the target;
(d) generating a probability map based upon the selected range of consecutive intensities; and
(e) generating at least two initial histograms based upon the selected range of consecutive intensities.
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13. A method of tracking a target using an image captured by an image sensor comprising the steps of:
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(a) computing a probability that a particular intensity of a pixel within the image is representative of the target;
(b) calculating a centroid of the target based upon the computed probability;
(c) manipulating the image sensor based upon the calculated centroid so as to maintain a line of sight of the image sensor on the target. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification