Quantitative and qualitative performance comparison of a biomimetic vision sensor with commercial CCD camera sensors

Abstract

Traditional imaging sensors for computer vision, such as CCD and CMOS arrays, have well-known limitations with regard to detecting objects that are very small in size (that is, a small object image compared to the pixel size), are viewed in a low contrast situation, are moving very fast (with respect to the sensor integration time), or are moving very small distances compared to the sensor pixel spacing. Any one or a combination of these situations can foil a traditional CCD or CMOS sensor array. Alternative sensor designs derived from biological vision systems promise better resolution and object detection in situations such as these. The patent-pending biomimetic vision sensor based on Musca domestica (the common house fly) is capable of reliable object rendition in spite of challenging movement and low contrast conditions. We discuss some interesting early results of comparing the biomimetic sensor to commercial CCD sensors in terms of contrast and motion sensitivity in situations such as those listed above.