A QUICK HOUGH TRANSFORM PARAMETER SEARCH ALGORITHM FOR FLEXIBLE PART INSPECTION

This paper presents the development of a Quick Hough Transform Paramet er Search (QHTPS) algorithm to be implemented in a vision-based metrol ogy system for in-process dimensional checking of nonpositioned parts. Using prior information about part shape and size, the QHTPS algorith m models the orientation of each straight edge as a function of the or ientation of the principal axis of the part image. This approach reduc es the amount of accumulator cells that need to be declared in the tra nsform space to quicken the part boundary representation operation. Ex perimental results of length, angle, and radius measurements of nonpos itioned parts are given.