Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles to provide robust optical character recognition (OCR) for use in industrial environments. One or more implementations include utilizing Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) features with a sliding window approach as a robust and computationally efficient method of OCR. The implementations are relatively simple to use because there are relatively few parameters to adjust, which allows a non-expert user to setup or modify the system and achieve desirable performance. One reason this is possible is because the implementations described herein do not require character segmentation, which can be difficult to optimize.

Abstract: Method and system for detecting objects of interest in a camera monitored area are disclosed. Statistical analysis of block feature data, particularly Sobel edge and spatial high frequency responses is used to model the background of the scene and to segregate foreground objects from the background. This technique provides a robust motion detection scheme prone to catching genuine motions and immune against false alarms.

Abstract: A device for detecting offending objects such as insects on substrates such as on leaves, plants, in fluid or over a large area. The device has a microscope lens which magnifies a portion of the substrate and sends an image of the substrate portion to an image recognition system. If the image recognition system detects the presence of an offending object—further steps are taken to remove, neutralize or mark the area where the offending object is located for subsequent action. The device may be mounted on a movable platform such as drone for active surveillance and action over a large area.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to identify one or more salient events from an analysis of one or more images in an efficient and accurate manner. In this regard, the method, apparatus and computer program product may limit the visual analysis of the images to only a subset of the images that are determined to be potentially relevant based upon sensor information provided by one or more sensors carried by the image capturing device. In the context of a method, one or more images that are captured by an image capturing device are identified to be a salient video segment based upon sensor information provided by one or more sensors carried by the image capturing device. The method also includes identifying one or more salient events based upon an analysis of the one or more images of the salient video segment.

Abstract: An image registering method includes extracting a first cross-section image from first volume data about a target object, which is acquired via a first image acquisition modality; displaying the first cross-section image; acquiring second volume data about the target object, the second volume data including a second cross-section image corresponding to the first cross-section image and position information of a probe, via a second image acquisition modality using the probe; and registering the first volume data with the second volume data, based on the first cross-section image, the second cross-section image, and the position information of the probe.

Abstract: Airborne tracking systems use sensors to track objects of interest. In order to track the objects of interests, the sensors need to be steered such that the object is kept, ideally, in the center of the sensors field of view. Automatic steering of optical sensors requires the generation of a track on an object of interest. When tracking boats on the water, current approaches to image processing may generate multiple detections on the object of interest. Embodiments of the present disclosure solve the track multiplicity problem by grouping tracks associated with the object of interest into a cluster and by estimating a most likely location of the object within the cluster of tracks. Based on the estimated location, embodiments of the present disclosure outputs a single track for the object. The single track is used by an automatic steering system to maintain a sensor aimed at the object of interest.

Abstract: A coin identification system and method is disclosed for determining the identity of a source coin by way of image processing. The system comprises a source coin image capture means, an image processing means, and an output that relays information to the user or sorts the coin according to its match results. The processing means compares at least one image of the source coin to a plurality of reference coin images, whereby the image of the source coin is manipulated and overlaid onto the reference coin images to determine if a match is available with a given probability. An embodiment of the system employs a coin collection and sorting device. Another embodiment contemplates a handheld electronic device that captures and processes the source coin. Both embodiments may connect to a remote server housing the reference coin information or store the information locally.

Abstract: A method for content-based image retrieval for the classification of breast density from mammographic imagery is described. The breast density is characterized through the Fisher linear discriminants (FLD) extracted from the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Unlike PCA, the FLD provides a very discriminative representation of the mammographic images in terms of the breast density. Various exemplary methods, systems and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus obtains a picture containing an image of a person from an imaging device. Also obtained are first data indicating distance of the person and other subjects seen in the picture from the imaging device, second data indicating distance of a wrist of the person from the imaging device, and third data indicating a coordinate position of the wrist in the picture. The information processing apparatus extracts a set of pixels whose coordinates fall within a specified coordinate range defined around the coordinate position of the wrist and whose distances from the imaging device fall within a specified distance range defined around the distance of the wrist. Then based on a ratio representing how many of the extracted pixels have a distinctive color tone, the information processing apparatus determines whether the person has picked up an object.

Abstract: A method and system for on-street vehicle parking occupancy estimation via curb detection comprises training a computer system to identify a curb, evaluating image data of the region of interest to determine a region wherein a curb is visible in said region of interest, and estimating a parking occupancy of said region of interest according to said region where said curb is visible.

Abstract: A method for a face recognition by a face recognition service server, includes receiving a face image that is photographed from a face registration terminal or a face recognition terminal; detecting a face area of the received face image; and quantifying at least one quality factor for the detected face area in order to determine whether the received face image is suitable as sample image required for face recognition. Further, the method includes selecting the received face image as the sample image required for the face recognition when the quality factor satisfies a predetermined quality criterion.

Abstract: Applicants have discovered a multi-layer quality control/quality assurance system that provides higher quality data, without human intervention, by rejecting images that do not achieve a pre-determined quality threshold. In some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a new method of processing an image from a data set through a pipeline wherein quality control/assurance allows to determine a quality of the image processing, the method comprising; receiving a test image; pre-processing the test image; registering the test image to a reference image; calculating a test image quality using a correlation of image intensity values between corresponding locations of the test image and the reference image; providing a plurality of training images and calculating training image quality distribution statistics for the training images with respect to the reference image; and relating the test image quality to the training image quality distribution.

Abstract: An integrated imaging system is invented for creating an optimal imaging session by importing information in real time from several sources and using that information to automatically and continuously adjust the parameters of the imaging session so as to create the optimal session for the prescribed testing session.

Abstract: A method for detecting the location of objects from a calibrated camera involves receiving an image capturing an object on a surface from a first vantage point; generating an occupancy map corresponding to the surface; filtering the occupancy map using a spatially varying kernel specific to the object shape and the first vantage point, resulting in a filtered occupancy map; and estimating the ground location of the object based on the filtered occupancy map.

Abstract: A surveying system comprising a station and rover is used to make field measurements of a job site. The station at a first location has one or more cameras and one or more targets. The rover has one or more cameras and one or more targets. The rover is moved to a plurality of locations and images are acquired of the one or more targets of the station and/or the rover. The images are used to determine a spatial relationship between the first location and the plurality of locations.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to measuring motion or deformations of vibrating objects are provided. A plurality of images of an object are acquired in synchronization with a plurality of determined times of interest during oscillation of the object. The plurality of images are compared to obtain one or more quantities of interest of the object based at least in part on the plurality of images.

Abstract: Images of an environment that are captured from two or more imaging devices may be captured and evaluated in order to identify a state of the environment, or an interaction that placed the environment in the state. The content of the images may be analyzed in order to recognize observed information or data expressed therein. The information or data may be associated with a given state according to one or more observation functions, and the state may be used to identify an action according to one or more transition functions. The observation function uses conditional probabilities to transfer the probability of making an observation by one imaging device to the observation made by the other imaging device. The observation functions and the transition functions may be derived based on historical training data including clips that are labeled to identify states or interactions expressed therein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the quality of recognition of the object based on a series of frame images of objects are described herein. A plurality of images depicting the same object are received. A first image is selected from the plurality of images. The first image may be an image with the highest quality from plurality of images. For each image in the plurality of images, motion estimation of elements of an image in the plurality of images and the first image is performed. Based on the results of motion estimation, motion compensation and signal accumulation of the object in the images in the plurality of images using the first image are performed. A high resolution image of the object obtained based on the motion compensation and signal accumulation is generated. Character recognition on the resulting high resolution image is performed.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computer implemented method of motion capture, the method includes tracking the motion of a dynamic object bearing a pattern configured such that a first portion of the patterns is tracked at a first resolution and a second portion of the pattern is tracked at a second resolution. The method further includes causing data representing the motion to be stored to a computer readable medium.

Abstract: An image-capture device 1 includes: an image acquisition unit 111 that acquires a plurality of images that are successively captured; an identification unit 112 that identifies a golf ball B as a predetermined object in each of the plurality of images; a rotation calculation unit 113 that calculates the number of rotations of the predetermined object; a movement amount calculation unit 114 that calculates a total movement amount that the golf ball B has moved; and a slippage amount calculation unit 115 that calculates a slippage amount based on the number of rotations as well as the total movement amount.