Counting inventory items using image analysis and depth information
First Claim
1. A computing system, comprising:
- a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor and storing program instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to at least;
receive from a first camera a first image of an inventory location, wherein the first image includes a representation of a plurality of inventory items located at the inventory location;
determine from an inventory location data store, an item type corresponding to the inventory location;
select a plurality of histogram of oriented gradients (“
HOG”
) models corresponding to the item type;
process the first image to generate a plurality of feature vectors, each feature vector representative of at least a portion of an object of an inventory item of the plurality of inventory items represented in the first image;
compare each of the plurality of feature vectors with each of the plurality of HOG models;
determine that a first feature vector representative of a first object of a first inventory item is substantially similar to at least one of the plurality of HOG models;
determine position information representative of a position of the first object represented by the feature vector;
compare the position information with an expected position of the first object, wherein the expected position is on a top of the first inventory item;
determine that the position information of the first object represented by the feature vector corresponds with the expected position of the feature vector; and
increment an inventory count.
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Abstract
Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.
216 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A computing system, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and storing program instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to at least; receive from a first camera a first image of an inventory location, wherein the first image includes a representation of a plurality of inventory items located at the inventory location; determine from an inventory location data store, an item type corresponding to the inventory location; select a plurality of histogram of oriented gradients (“
HOG”
) models corresponding to the item type;process the first image to generate a plurality of feature vectors, each feature vector representative of at least a portion of an object of an inventory item of the plurality of inventory items represented in the first image; compare each of the plurality of feature vectors with each of the plurality of HOG models; determine that a first feature vector representative of a first object of a first inventory item is substantially similar to at least one of the plurality of HOG models; determine position information representative of a position of the first object represented by the feature vector; compare the position information with an expected position of the first object, wherein the expected position is on a top of the first inventory item; determine that the position information of the first object represented by the feature vector corresponds with the expected position of the feature vector; and increment an inventory count. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A computer-implemented method for counting items, comprising:
under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions, receiving from a camera an image of an inventory location; determining a first feature from the image, wherein the first feature is potentially representative of an item positioned at the inventory location, and wherein the first feature is represented by a plurality of pixels in the image; determining a plurality of distances, each distance corresponding to a distance between a pixel of the plurality of pixels and the camera; determining that the first feature corresponds with a model feature stored in an item information data store for a type of item located at the inventory location; determining that each of the plurality of distances are substantially similar; and incrementing an item count for the inventory location based at least in part on the determination that the first feature corresponds with the model feature and the determination that each of the plurality of distances are substantially similar. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computing system, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and storing program instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to at least; receive from a camera an image of an item located at an inventory location, receive depth information corresponding to a position of the item represented in the image with respect to the camera; determine a feature vector representative of a feature of the item represented in the image; compare the feature vector with a model feature vector corresponding to an item type associated with the inventory location; determine a position of the feature of the item; compare the position of the feature with an expected position; and determine that the item corresponds to the item type based at least in part on the comparison of the feature vector with the model feature vector and the comparison of the position of the feature with the expected position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method, comprising:
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determining an item type of an inventory item associated with an inventory location; segmenting an image of the inventory location to produce a plurality of image segments; processing, using at least one computing system, a first image segment of the plurality of image segments to determine a feature from the first image segment, wherein the first image segment is less than the entire image; comparing, using the at least one computing system, the feature with a model feature corresponding to the item type; determining, using at least one computing system, that the image segment corresponds with the item type based at least in part on the comparison; and in response to a determination that the image segment corresponds with the item type, perform an action. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification