Computer Vision: Theory and Industrial Applications

This book is the fruit of a very long and elaborate process. It was conceived as a comprehensive solution to several deficiencies encountered while trying to teach the essentials of Computer Vision in different contexts: to technicians from industry looking for technological solutions to some of their problems, to students in search of a good subject for a PhD thesis, and to researchers in other fields who believe that Computer Vision techniques may help them to analyse their results. The book was carefully planned with all these people in mind. Thus, it covers the fundamentals of both 2D and 3D Computer Vision and their most widespread industrial applications, such as automated inspection, robot guidance and workpiece acquisition. The level of explanation is that of an expanded introductory text, in the sense that, besides the basic material, some special advanced topics are included in each chapter, together with an extensive bibliography for experts to follow up. Well-known researchers on each of the topics were appointed to write a chapter following several guidelines to ensure a consistent presentation throughout. I would like to thank the authors for their patience, because some of them had to go through several revisions of their chapters in order to avoid repetition and to improve the homogeneity and coherence of the book. I hope they will find that the final result has been worth their efforts.

Klappentext

The book covers the fundamentals of both 2D and 3D ComputerVision and theirmost widespread industrial applications,such as automated inspection, robotguidance and workpieceacquistion. The level of explanation is that of an unusualintroductory text, in the sense that, besides the basicmaterial, some punctuate advanced topics are included ineach chapter, together with an extensive bibliography forexperts to follow up. The book was carefully planned so asto cover the different aspects of Computer Vision evenly andfollowing a unified line of exposition. The result has beenthat the book is not biased towards any particular topic orapproach. Well-known experts on each of the topics wereappointed to write a chapter under the guidelines providedby the editor. The chapters were revised by the editor toensure homogeneity and coherence. In short, the book has therigour and balance of a single-author textbook, but withoutlosing the benefits derived from the variety of outlookscharacteristic of multi-author volumes. Readers will acquirea solid background on the techniques used at the successivestages of the vision process, as well as a broad view of thepossibilities of applying this new technology in industry.

Inhalt
I Acquisition and 2D Processing.- 1- Image Obtention and Preprocessing.- 2- Segmentation.- II Obtaining 3D Information.- 3- Active Methods for Obtaining Depth Maps.- 4- Motion and Stereopsis.- 5- Shape from Shading, Occlusion and Texture.- III Representation and Interpretation.- 6- Statistical and Syntactic Models. Pattern Recognition Techniques.- 7- Geometric Object Models.- 8- A Methodology for the Development of General Knowledge-based Vision Systems.- IV Industrial Applications and Future Trends.- 9- Bin-picking Techniques.- 10- Automated Visual Inspection Algorithms.- 11- Commercial Vision Systems.- Addresses of Authors.