POLARIZATION VISION - A NEW SENSORY APPROACH TO IMAGE UNDERSTANDING

Authors
Citation
Lb. Wolff, POLARIZATION VISION - A NEW SENSORY APPROACH TO IMAGE UNDERSTANDING, Image and vision computing, 15(2), 1997, pp. 81-93
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Computer Sciences, Special Topics",Optics,"Engineering, Eletrical & Electronic","Computer Science Artificial Intelligence","Computer Science Software Graphycs Programming","Computer Science Theory & Methods
Journal title
ISSN journal
02628856
Volume
15
Issue
2
Year of publication
1997
Pages
81 - 93
Database
ISI
SICI code
0262-8856(1997)15:2<81:PV-ANS>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
Overviewed are recent results of a new general approach to image under standing and computer vision utilizing the sensing of polarization of light. Whereas human vision is oblivious to components of light polari zation, polarization parameters of light are shown to provide an impor tant visual extension to intensity and color significantly expanding t he application potential for image understanding. A physical state of polarization can be visualized directly in human terms as a particular hue and saturation, and this paper utilizes such a scheme presenting images of ordinary scenes as never seen before by humans in the domain of polarization vision. Metaphorically, humans are 'color blind' with respect to the perception of polarization, and even though this does not appear to inhibit human visual performance, we show how polarizati on vision is a sensory augmentation that can significantly enhance bot h automated image understanding and even possibly improve human visual performance itself under certain conditions. Sensors, called polariza tion cameras, have been developed that automatically sense components of partial linear polarization and computationally process these compo nents to produce polarization images. Prototypes of different polariza tion camera sensors have been presented in earlier literature. A recen t advancement in the design of polarization cameras has made it possib le to interface low-cost modular components with almost any existing i maging device converting it into an automatic polarization camera. Thi s compatibility with small portable imaging devices is making polariza tion imaging for the first time accessible to a number of application areas outside the laboratory, both outdoors and underwater, revealing polarization vision as a vast new visually augmented domain with uniqu e capabilities. This paper presents various results from three on-goin g field applications: natural object recognition, inspection of ship h ulls for damage, and marine biology.