We describe a novel method for learning templates for recognition and localization of objects drawn from categories. A generative model represents the configuration of multiple object parts with respect to an object coordinate system; these parts in turn generate image features. The complexity of the model in the number of features is low, meaning our model is much more efficient to train than comparative methods. Moreover, a variational approximation is introduced that allows learning to be orders of magnitude faster than previous approaches while incorporating many more features.

We present a computational model of human eye movements in an object classdetection task. The model combines state-of-the-art computer vision object class detection methods (SIFT features trained using AdaBoost) witha biologically plausible model of human eye movement to produce a sequence of simulated fixations, culminating with the acquisition ofa target. We validated the model by comparing its behavior to the behavior of human observers performing the identical object class detection task (looking for a teddy bear among visually complex nontarget objects).We found considerable agreement between the model and human data in multiple eye movement measures, including number of fixations, cumulative probability of fixating the target, and scanpath distance.

Desirable Characteristics of a model include good representation of objects, fast and efficient learning algorithms that require as little supervised information as possible.

We present and empirically test a novel approach for categorizing 3-D free form object shapes represented by range data. In contrast to traditional surface-signature based systems that use alignment to match specific objects, we adapted the newly introduced symbolic-signature representation to classify deformable shapes [10]. Our approach constructs an abstract description of shape classes using an ensemble of classifiers that learn object class parts and their corresponding geometrical relationships from a set of numeric and symbolic descriptors. We used our classification engine in a series of large scale discrimination experiments on two well-defined classes that share many common distinctive features. The experimental results suggest that our method outperforms traditional numeric signature-based methodologies.

We present and empirically test a novel approach for categorizing 3-D free form object shapes represented by range data. In contrast to traditional surface-signature based systems that use alignment to match specific objects, we adapted the newly introduced symbolic-signature representation to classify deformable shapes [10]. Our approach constructs an abstract description of shape classes using an ensemble of classifiers that learn object class parts and their corresponding geometrical relationships from a set of numeric and symbolic descriptors. We used our classification engine in a series of large scale discrimination experiments on two well-defined classes that share many common distinctive features. The experimental results suggest that our method outperforms traditional numeric signature-based methodologies.

We present and empirically test a novel approach for categorizing 3-D free form object shapesrepresented by range data . In contrast to traditional surface-signature based systems that use alignment to match specific objects, we adapted the newly introduced symbolic-signature representation to classify deformable shapes [10]. Our approach constructs anabstract description of shape classes using an ensemble of classifiers that learn object class parts and their corresponding geometrical relationships from a set of numeric and symbolic descriptors. We used our classification engine in a series of large scale discrimination experimentson two well-defined classes that share many common distinctive features. The experimental results suggest that our method outperforms traditional numeric signature-based methodologies.

A method for unrestricted recognition of three-dimensional objects was developed. By unrestricted, we imply that the recognition will be done independently of object position, scale, orientation, and pose against a structured background. It does not assume any preceding segmentation or allow a reasonable degree of occlusion. The method uses a hierarchy of triplet feature invariants, which are at each level defined by a learning procedure. In the feedback learning procedure, percepts are mapped on system states corresponding to manipulation parameters of the object. The method uses a learning architecture with channel information representation. This article discusses how objects can be represented. We propose a structure to deal with object and contextual properties in a transparent manner.

A synthesisof methods from cybernetics and AI yields a concept of intelligence for autonomous mobile systems that integrates closed-loop visual perception and goal-oriented action cycles using spatiotemporal models. In a layered architecture, systems dynamics methods with differential models prevail on the lower, data-intensive levels, but on higher levels, AI-type methods are used. Knowledge about the world is geared to classes of objects and subjects. Subjects are defined as objects with additional capabilities of sensing, data processing, decision making, and control application. Specialist processes for visual detection and efficient tracking of class members have been developed. On the upper levels, individual instantiations of these class members are analyzed jointly in the task context, yielding the situation for decision making. As an application, vertebrate-type vision for tasks in vehicle guidance in naturally perturbed environments was investigated with a distributed PC system. Experimental results with the test vehicle VAMORS are discussed.

In real-world scenes, intrinsic object information is often degraded due to occlusion, low contrast, and poor resolution. In such situations, the object recognition problem based on intrinsic object representations is ill-posed. A more comprehensive representation of an object should include contextual information [11,13]: Obj.

In real-world scenes, intrinsic object information is often degraded due to occlusion, low contrast, and poor resolution. In such situations, the object recognition problem based on intrinsic object representations is ill-posed. A more comprehensive representation of an object should include contextual information [11,13]: Obj.