Smart Cameras in Embedded Systems

Abstract

A smart camera performs real-time analysis to recognize scenic elements. Smart cameras are useful in a variety of scenarios: surveillance, medicine, etc. We have built a real-time system for recognizing gestures. Our smart camera uses novel algorithms to recognize gestures based on low-level analysis of body parts as well as hidden Markov models for the moves that comprise the gestures. These algorithms run on a Tri media processor. Our system cans recognize gestures at the rate of 20 frames /second. The camera can also fuse the results of multiple cameras. The smart camera – a whole vision system contained in one neat housing can be used anywhere, in any industry where image processing can be applied. Companies no longer need a cabinet in which to keep all their computing equipment: the computer is housed within the smart camera. In the pharmaceutical industry and in clean rooms – when not even dust is allowed – this can be a big advantage. A single square meter of space can be comparatively very expensive if there is no need for a component rack or cabinet, simply a smart camera, and then this could save a lot of money.