Method and apparatus for machine vision classification and tracking
First Claim
1. A machine vision system comprising:
- image acquisition means for acquiring images from three-dimensional space;
means for determining the magnitude of vertical and horizontal edge element intensity components of each pixel of said image;
means for converting said vertical and horizontal edge element intensity components to a first vector with a magnitude of total edge element intensity and a direction for each said pixel within said image;
means for defining regions of interest within said image;
means for fuzzifying said first vectors in said regions of interest to create a second vector characterizing each said region of interest;
a neural network for interpreting said second vector of each said region of interest to determine a classification of said object;
means for generating a signal indicative of said classification of said object; and
interface means for providing an interface with external devices.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for classification and tracking objects in three-dimensional space is described. A machine vision system acquires images from roadway scenes and processes the images by analyzing the intensities of edge elements within the image. The system then applies fuzzy set theory to the location and angles of each pixel after the pixel intensities have been characterized by vectors. A neural network interprets the data created by the fuzzy set operators and classifies objects within the roadway scene. The system can also track objects within the roadway scene, such as vehicle, by forecasting potential track regions and then calculating match scores for each potential track region based on how well the edge elements from the target track regions match those from the source region as weighted by the extent the edge elements have moved.
193 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A machine vision system comprising:
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image acquisition means for acquiring images from three-dimensional space; means for determining the magnitude of vertical and horizontal edge element intensity components of each pixel of said image; means for converting said vertical and horizontal edge element intensity components to a first vector with a magnitude of total edge element intensity and a direction for each said pixel within said image; means for defining regions of interest within said image; means for fuzzifying said first vectors in said regions of interest to create a second vector characterizing each said region of interest; a neural network for interpreting said second vector of each said region of interest to determine a classification of said object; means for generating a signal indicative of said classification of said object; and interface means for providing an interface with external devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for classifying objects in an image, comprising the computer implemented steps of:
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determining the magnitude of vertical and horizontal edge element intensity components of each pixel of said image; converting said vertical and horizontal edge element intensity components to a first vector with a magnitude of total edge element intensity and a direction for each said pixel within said image; defining regions of interest within said image; applying fuzzy set theory to said first vectors in regions of interest to create a second vector characterizing each said region of interest; interpreting said second vector of each said region of interest with a neural network whereby said neural network determines a classification of said object based on said second vector; and generating a signal indicative of said classification of said object. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification