Abstract: The object detection apparatus according to the invention detects an object based on input images that are captured sequentially in time in a moving unit. The apparatus generates an action command to be sent to the moving unit, calculates flow information for each local area in the input image, and estimates an action of the moving unit based on the flow information. The apparatus calculates a difference between the estimated action and the action command and then determines a specific local area as a figure area when such difference in association with that specific local area exhibits an error larger than a predetermined value. The apparatus determines presence/absence of an object in the figure area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a behavior control apparatus and method for autonomously controlling a mobile unit based on visual information in practical application without the needs of a greatdeal of preparation or computational cost and limiting the type of target object. According to one aspect of the invention, a method for controlling behavior of a mobile unit using behavior command is provided. First, sensory inputs are captured and then the motion of the mobile unit is estimated. The portion which includes a target object to be target for behavior of the mobile unit is segregated from the sensory inputs. The target objects extracted from the segregated portion and the location of the target object is acquired. Finally, the mobile unit is controlled based on the location of target object.

Abstract: It is objective of the invention to provide a highly reliable control apparatus and method which reduces the amount of calculation required for both learning of an input/output relationship and actual control as well as prevent inappropriate outputs from being generated for inputs which have been never learned. According to one aspect of the invention, pairs of an input pattern vector for learning and a target output are distributed to a class based on the target output. Then, a correspondence between each element of the input pattern vector for learning and the target output is learned only in that class, and a distribution function is calculated for distributing a new input pattern vector for learning to that class. After the completion of this learning, the distribution function is used to determine which class a new input pattern vector detected by a sensor belongs to. Finally, an output is calculated according to the learning result of that class.

Abstract: An object detection apparatus is provided for detecting both stationary objects and moving objects accurately from an image captured from a moving mobile unit.

Abstract: An image recognizing apparatus and method is provided for recognizing behavior of a mobile unit accurately with an image of external environment acquired during the mobile unit is moving.

Abstract: A sound separation apparatus for separating a target signal from a mixed input signal, wherein the mixed input signal includes the target signal and one or more sound signals emitted from different sound sources. The sound separation apparatus according comprises a frequency analyzer for performing a frequency analysis on the mixed input signal and calculating spectrum and frequency component candidate points at each time. The apparatus further comprises feature extraction means for extracting feature parameters which are estimated to correspond with the target signal, comprising a local layer for analyzing local feature parameters using the spectrum and the frequency component candidate points and one or more global layers for analyzing global feature parameters using the feature parameters extracted by the local layer. The apparatus further comprises a signal regenerator for regenerating a waveform of the target signal using the feature parameters extracted by the feature extraction means.

Abstract: The invention provides a high-speed and easy motion information recognition system that is capable of recognizing the motion information directly from the images.

Abstract: In an artificial intelligence system for image recognition, a global image of an object is input from a camera or other optical pick-up device, and is processed in a global image processing means, which performs analytical processing on the global image by extracting global characteristics of the input image and evaluating consistency of the extracted global characteristics. Simultaneously, the image data is processed in a local image processing means which undertakes analytical processing on a plurality of local images defining local portions of the image to be recognized. The local image processing means is constructed by plural modules, each further defined by sub-modules, which conduct respective analyses corresponding to local images having characteristics useful in recognizing the global image, wherein each local processor extracts characteristics of an input local image and evaluates consistency of the extracted characteristic with the object to be recognized.

Abstract: An artificial visual apparatus and method for image recognition having a simple adaptive scaling mechanism enables the definition of scale invariant visual icons in a processing area corresponding to the anterior inferotemporal cortex (AIT) in a one-step, value-based decision making process. Icon related activity states resulting from sensory filtering to a fourth stage KL filter corresponding to the V4 area are recognized independent of the scale and position of the item to be recognized within the maximum visual field. The AIT processing area controls the window of attention in the V4 area and confines further processing onto this selected spotlight. The invention presents a biologically plausible method for scale invariant mapping from the V4 stage filter to the AIT processor.

Abstract: A control device of an autonomously moving body according to the present invention comprises at least one image pickup unit which picks up the image of a moving road of an automatically moving body; an image processing unit which processes a plurality of image data outputted from the image pickup unit and detects and outputs the condition of said moving read, or an outside information obtaining unit which obtains environmental information other than image; a storage means which stores data outputted from said image processing unit or said outside information obtaining means; a data control section which corrects said data stored in said storage means to data of an arbitrary time and position; a data evaluating section which integrates a plurality of data outputted from said data control section into one moving road data; and a control section which controls the movement of the autonomously moving body according to the moving road data outputted from said data evaluating section.