A vision system for robotic inspection and manipulation

A model-based approach has been proposed to make object recognition computationally tractable. In this approach, models associated with objects expected to appear in the scene are recorded in the system's knowledge base. The system extracts various features from the input images using robust, low-level, general-purpose operators. Finally, matching is performed between the image-derived features and the scene domain models to recognize objects. Factors affecting the successful design and implementation of model-based vision systems include the ability to derive suitable object models, the nature of image features extracted by the operators, a computationally effective matching approach, knowledge representation schemes, and effective control mechanisms for guiding the systems's overall operation. The vision system they describe uses gray-scale images, which can successfully handle complex scenes with multiple object types     

A New Approach to Pose Detection using a Trinocular Stereovision System

Object location and tracking is a major issue in computer vision. This problem is normally solved through the extraction of representative features of the object, and the two-dimensional coordinates of these image features are used to compute the position of the object. When more than one camera is used, a certain similarity measure between the image features extracted from both stereoscopic images helps to match the correspondences. In this way, three-dimensional measurements can be recovered from the 2D coordinates of the features extracted from different cameras. In this paper the use of a trinocular system is considered to estimate both the position and velocity of known objects by using their apparent area, and with no use of the image-plane coordinates of the object 's features. A high precision low-level image processor has been developed for performing object labeling and noise filtering of the images at video rate. Then, a position measurement tool uses the apparent area captured by every camera to locate the object. This enables us to estimate the position of the object. Finally, a prediction tool refines the estimation in locating the object. We show the performance of the trinocular system with a real implementation. This system has been designed to process the images provided by any conventional of high-speed cameras at video rate.     

A 2D/3D model-based object tracking framework

This paper presents a robust framework for tracking complex objects in video sequences. Multiple hypothesis tracking (MHT) algorithm reported in (IEEE Trans. Pattern Anal. Mach. Intell. 18(2) (1996)) is modified to accommodate a high level representations (2D edge map, 3D models) of objects for tracking. The framework exploits the advantages of MHT algorithm which is capable of resolving data association/uncertainty and integrates it with object matching techniques to provide a robust behavior while tracking complex objects. To track objects in 2D, a 4D feature is used to represent edge/line segments and are tracked using MHT. In many practical applications 3D models provide more information about the object's pose (i.e., rotation information in the transformation space) which cannot be recovered using 2D edge information. Hence, a 3D model-based object tracking algorithm is also presented. A probabilistic Hausdorff image matching algorithm is incorporated into the framework in order to determine the geometric transformation that best maps the model features onto their corresponding ones in the image plane. 3D model of the object is used to constrain the tracker to operate in a consistent manner. Experimental results on real and synthetic image sequences are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed framework.     

A bivariate autoregressive technique for analysis andclassification of planar shapes

A bivariate autoregressive model is introduced for the analysis and classification of closed planar shapes. The boundary coordinate sequence of a digitized binary image is sampled to produce a polygonal approximation to an object's shape. This circular sample sequence is then represented by a vector autoregressive difference equation which models the individual Cartesian coordinate sequences as well as coordinate interdependencies. Several classification features which are functions or transformations of the estimated coefficient matrices and the associated residual error covariance matrices are developed. These features are shown to be invariant to object transformations such as translation, rotation, and scaling. Laboratory experiments involving object sets representative of industrial shapes are presented. Superior classification results are demonstrated     

On recognizing and positioning curved 3-D objects from imagecontours

An approach for explicitly relating the shape of image contours to models of curved three-dimensional objects is presented. This relationship is used for object recognition and positioning. Object models consist of collections of parametric surface patches and their intersection curves; this includes nearly all representations used in computer-aided geometric design and computer vision. The image contours considered are the projections of surface discontinuities and occluding contours. Elimination theory provides a method for constructing the implicit equation of these contours for an object observed under orthographic or perspective projection. This equation is parameterized by the object's position and orientation with respect to the observer. Determining these parameters is reduced to a fitting problem between the theoretical contour and the observed data points. The proposed approach readily extends to parameterized models. It has been implemented for a simple world composed of various surfaces of revolution and tested on several real images     

基于Visual C++6.0的运动目标形心捕获

本文详细介绍了在视频图像的基础上用Visual C++6.0实现运动目标形心捕获的具体程序,从而可以实现运动目标的位置检测.程序运用改进的形心算法计算目标图形的中心坐标,并使用了计时器函数实时显示坐标变化值.     

A system for 3D texture-based probabilistic object recognition and its applications

This article presents a system for texture-based probabilistic classification and localisation of three-dimensional objects in two-dimensional digital images and discusses selected applications. In contrast to shape-based approaches, our texture-based method does not rely on object features extracted using image segmentation techniques. Rather, the objects are described by local feature vectors computed directly from image pixel values using the wavelet transform. Both gray level and colour images can be processed. In the training phase, object features are statistically modelled as normal density functions. In the recognition phase, the system classifies and localises objects in scenes with real heterogeneous backgrounds. Feature vectors are calculated and a maximisation algorithm compares the learned density functions with the extracted feature vectors and yields the classes and poses of objects found in the scene. Experiments carried out on a real dataset of over 40,000 images demonstrate the robustness of the system in terms of classification and localisation accuracy. Finally, two important real application scenarios are discussed, namely recognising museum exhibits from visitors’ own photographs and classification of metallography images.     

Probabilistic Models of Appearance for 3-D Object Recognition

We describe how to model the appearance of a 3-D object using multiple views, learn such a model from training images, and use the model for object recognition. The model uses probability distributions to describe the range of possible variation in the object's appearance. These distributions are organized on two levels. Large variations are handled by partitioning training images into clusters corresponding to distinctly different views of the object. Within each cluster, smaller variations are represented by distributions characterizing uncertainty in the presence, position, and measurements of various discrete features of appearance. Many types of features are used, ranging in abstraction from edge segments to perceptual groupings and regions. A matching procedure uses the feature uncertainty information to guide the search for a match between model and image. Hypothesized feature pairings are used to estimate a viewpoint transformation taking account of feature uncertainty. These methods have been implemented in an object recognition system, OLIVER. Experiments show that OLIVER is capable of learning to recognize complex objects in cluttered images, while acquiring models that represent those objects using relatively few views.     

Hopfield network for stereo vision correspondence

An optimization approach is used to solve the correspondence problem for a set of features extracted from a pair of stereo images. A cost function is defined to represent the constraints on the solution, which is then mapped onto a two-dimensional Hopfield neural network for minimization. Each neuron in the network represents a possible match between a feature in the left image and one in the right image. Correspondence is achieved by initializing (exciting) each neuron that represents a possible match and then allowing the network to settle down into a stable state. The network uses the initial inputs and the compatibility measures between the matched points to find a stable state.     

Real-time model-based tracking combining spatial and temporal features

This paper describes a method for tracking moving image features by combining spatial and temporal edge information with model-based feature information. The algorithm updates the two-dimensional position of object features by correlating predicted model features with current image data. The results of the correlation process are used to compute an updated model. The algorithm makes use of a high temporal sampling rate with respect to spatial changes of the image features and operates in a real-time multi-processing environment. Preliminary results demonstrate successful tracking for image feature velocities between 1.1 and 4.5 pixels every image frame.     

基于单幅图像确定目标空间方位新方法的测距系统

提出了一种新的由单幅二维投影图像确定目标三维空间方位的的方法,即在照、摄象机内部参数未知的条件下,采用目标上共面四线与他们在二维图像上投影相匹配的策略,来实现目标的定位;并将其应用于测距系统。因此该方法与以前方法相比,更附和实际需要,从而具有广泛的实际应用推广价值。     

相机抖动场景中数据驱动的背景图像更新算法

视频序列中的运动目标检测是计算机视觉领域的重要研究课题.背景减除是运动目标检测的有效方法,但相机抖动会对背景提取带来极大干扰,从而可能造成传统基于模型的图像处理方法模型失真.本文提出了相机抖动场景下前景图像提取的数据驱动背景图像更新控制算法.首先利用Harris特征检测进行背景补偿以消除抖动干扰.然后利用无模型自适应控制方法,建立单入单出控制系统来表示背景图像并进行实时更新.最后运用背景减除法提取运动目标前景图像.本文方法与传统基于模型方法进行了不同视频序列的对比仿真.实验结果表明,本文方法可以有效处理相机抖动场景下的运动目标检测问题,目标前景图像分离效果更加接近真实场景.     

The probabilistic peaking effect of viewed angles and distanceswith application to 3-D object recognition

Two novel probabilistic models for viewed angles and distances are derived using an observability sphere method. The method, which is based on the assumption that the prior probability density is isotropic for all viewing orientations, can be used for the computation of observation probabilities for object's aspects, features, and probability densities of their quantitative attributes. Using the sphere, it is discovered that the probability densities of viewed angles, distances, and even projected curvature have sharp peaks at their original values. From this peaking effect, it is concluded that in most cases, the values of angles and distances are being altered only slightly by the imaging process, and they can still serve as a strong cue for model-based recognition. The probabilistic models for 3-D object recognition from monocular images are used. To form the angular elements that are needed, the objects are represented by their linear features and specific points primitives. Using the joint density model of angles and distances, the probabilities of initial matching hypotheses and mutual information coefficients are estimated. These results are then used for object recognition by optimal matching search and stochastic labeling schemes. Various synthetic and real objects are recognized by this approach     

Model-based visual feedback control for a hand-eye coordinatedrobotic system

The integration of a single camera into a robotic system to control the relative position and orientation between the robot's end-effector and a moving part in real time is discussed. Only monocular vision techniques are considered because of current limitations in the speed of computer vision analysis. The approach uses geometric models of both the part and the camera, as well as the extracted image features, to generate the appropriate robot control signals for tracking. Part and camera models are also used during the teaching stage to predict important image features that appear during task completion     

Visual learning and recognition of 3-d objects from appearance

The problem of automatically learning object models for recognition and pose estimation is addressed. In contrast to the traditional approach, the recognition problem is formulated as one of matching appearance rather than shape. The appearance of an object in a two-dimensional image depends on its shape, reflectance properties, pose in the scene, and the illumination conditions. While shape and reflectance are intrinsic properties and constant for a rigid object, pose and illumination vary from scene to scene. A compact representation of object appearance is proposed that is parametrized by pose and illumination. For each object of interest, a large set of images is obtained by automatically varying pose and illumination. This image set is compressed to obtain a low-dimensional subspace, called the eigenspace, in which the object is represented as a manifold. Given an unknown input image, the recognition system projects the image to eigenspace. The object is recognized based on the manifold it lies on. The exact position of the projection on the manifold determines the object's pose in the image.A variety of experiments are conducted using objects with complex appearance characteristics. The performance of the recognition and pose estimation algorithms is studied using over a thousand input images of sample objects. Sensitivity of recognition to the number of eigenspace dimensions and the number of learning samples is analyzed. For the objects used, appearance representation in eigenspaces with less than 20 dimensions produces accurate recognition results with an average pose estimation error of about 1.0 degree. A near real-time recognition system with 20 complex objects in the database has been developed. The paper is concluded with a discussion on various issues related to the proposed learning and recognition methodology.     

Soft object deformation monitoring and learning for model-based robotic hand manipulation

This paper discusses the design and implementation of a framework that automatically extracts and monitors the shape deformations of soft objects from a video sequence and maps them with force measurements with the goal of providing the necessary information to the controller of a robotic hand to ensure safe model-based deformable object manipulation. Measurements corresponding to the interaction force at the level of the fingertips and to the position of the fingertips of a three-finger robotic hand are associated with the contours of a deformed object tracked in a series of images using neural-network approaches. The resulting model captures the behavior of the object and is able to predict its behavior for previously unseen interactions without any assumption on the object's material. The availability of such models can contribute to the improvement of a robotic hand controller, therefore allowing more accurate and stable grasp while providing more elaborate manipulation capabilities for deformable objects. Experiments performed for different objects, made of various materials, reveal that the method accurately captures and predicts the object's shape deformation while the object is submitted to external forces applied by the robot fingers. The proposed method is also fast and insensitive to severe contour deformations, as well as to smooth changes in lighting, contrast, and background.     

Interactive model-based vehicle tracking

This paper describes an interactive model-based vision system for vehicle tracking. A human specifies a limited amount of information in the form of object models, which establish a context for autonomous interpretation of scenes containing moving vehicles. Results are presented from several image sequences shot with hand-held uncalibrated cameras     

Inexact graph matching for model-based recognition: Evaluation and comparison of optimization algorithms

A method for segmentation and recognition of image structures based on graph homomorphisms is presented in this paper. It is a model-based recognition method where the input image is over-segmented and the obtained regions are represented by an attributed relational graph (ARG). This graph is then matched against a model graph thus accomplishing the model-based recognition task. This type of problem calls for inexact graph matching through a homomorphism between the graphs since no bijective correspondence can be expected, because of the over-segmentation of the image with respect to the model. The search for the best homomorphism is carried out by optimizing an objective function based on similarities between object and relational attributes defined on the graphs. The following optimization procedures are compared and discussed: deterministic tree search, for which new algorithms are detailed, genetic algorithms and estimation of distribution algorithms. In order to assess the performance of these algorithms using real data, experimental results on supervised classification of facial features using face images from public databases are presented.     

A CAD Model Based System for Object Recognition

3D object recognition is a difficult and yet an important problem in computer vision. A 3D object recognition system has two major components, namely: an object modeller and a system that performs the matching of stored representations to those derived from the sensed image. The performance of systems wherein the construction of object models is done by training from one or more images of the objects, has not been very satisfactory. Although objects used in a robotic workcell or in assembly processes have been designed using a CAD system, the vision systems used for recognition of these objects are independent of the CAD database. This paper proposes a scheme for interfacing the CAD database of objects and the computer vision processes used for recognising these objects. CAD models of objects are processed to generate vision oriented features that appear in the different views of the object and the same features are extracted from images of the object to identify the object and its pose.