3,808 research outputs found
Face tracking using a hyperbolic catadioptric omnidirectional system
In the first part of this paper, we present a brief review on catadioptric omnidirectional
systems. The special case of the hyperbolic omnidirectional system is analysed in depth.
The literature shows that a hyperboloidal mirror has two clear advantages over alternative
geometries. Firstly, a hyperboloidal mirror has a single projection centre [1]. Secondly, the
image resolution is uniformly distributed along the mirror’s radius [2].
In the second part of this paper we show empirical results for the detection and tracking
of faces from the omnidirectional images using Viola-Jones method. Both panoramic and
perspective projections, extracted from the omnidirectional image, were used for that purpose.
The omnidirectional image size was 480x480 pixels, in greyscale. The tracking method used
regions of interest (ROIs) set as the result of the detections of faces from a panoramic projection
of the image. In order to avoid losing or duplicating detections, the panoramic projection was
extended horizontally. Duplications were eliminated based on the ROIs established by previous
detections. After a confirmed detection, faces were tracked from perspective projections (which
are called virtual cameras), each one associated with a particular face. The zoom, pan and tilt
of each virtual camera was determined by the ROIs previously computed on the panoramic
image.
The results show that, when using a careful combination of the two projections, good frame
rates can be achieved in the task of tracking faces reliably
Acoustical Ranging Techniques in Embedded Wireless Sensor Networked Devices
Location sensing provides endless opportunities for a wide range of applications in GPS-obstructed environments;
where, typically, there is a need for higher degree of accuracy. In this article, we focus on robust range
estimation, an important prerequisite for fine-grained localization. Motivated by the promise of acoustic in
delivering high ranging accuracy, we present the design, implementation and evaluation of acoustic (both
ultrasound and audible) ranging systems.We distill the limitations of acoustic ranging; and present efficient
signal designs and detection algorithms to overcome the challenges of coverage, range, accuracy/resolution,
tolerance to Doppler’s effect, and audible intensity. We evaluate our proposed techniques experimentally on
TWEET, a low-power platform purpose-built for acoustic ranging applications. Our experiments demonstrate
an operational range of 20 m (outdoor) and an average accuracy 2 cm in the ultrasound domain. Finally,
we present the design of an audible-range acoustic tracking service that encompasses the benefits of a near-inaudible
acoustic broadband chirp and approximately two times increase in Doppler tolerance to achieve better performance
Long Range Automated Persistent Surveillance
This dissertation addresses long range automated persistent surveillance with focus on three topics: sensor planning, size preserving tracking, and high magnification imaging.
field of view should be reserved so that camera handoff can be executed successfully before the object of interest becomes unidentifiable or untraceable. We design a sensor planning algorithm that not only maximizes coverage but also ensures uniform and sufficient overlapped camera’s field of view for an optimal handoff success rate. This algorithm works for environments with multiple dynamic targets using different types of cameras. Significantly improved handoff success rates are illustrated via experiments using floor plans of various scales.
Size preserving tracking automatically adjusts the camera’s zoom for a consistent view of the object of interest. Target scale estimation is carried out based on the paraperspective projection model which compensates for the center offset and considers system latency and tracking errors. A computationally efficient foreground segmentation strategy, 3D affine shapes, is proposed. The 3D affine shapes feature direct and real-time implementation and improved flexibility in accommodating the target’s 3D motion, including off-plane rotations. The effectiveness of the scale estimation and foreground segmentation algorithms is validated via both offline and real-time tracking of pedestrians at various resolution levels.
Face image quality assessment and enhancement compensate for the performance degradations in face recognition rates caused by high system magnifications and long observation distances. A class of adaptive sharpness measures is proposed to evaluate and predict this degradation. A wavelet based enhancement algorithm with automated frame selection is developed and proves efficient by a considerably elevated face recognition rate for severely blurred long range face images
Second Surveyor launch set September 20
NASA program data on launching and characteristics of Surveyor B spacecraft and Atlas Centaur launch vehicl
- …