Neural networks for segmentation, tracking, and identification
Steven K. Rogers, Dennis W. Ruck, Kevin L. Priddy, Gregory L. Tarr · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1992
The main thrust of this paper is to encourage the use of neural networks to process raw data for subsequent classification. This article addresses neural network techniques for processing raw pixel information. For this paper the definition of neural networks includes the conventional artificial neural networks such as the multilayer perceptrons and also biologically inspired processing techniques. Previously, we have successfully used the biologically inspired Gabor transform to process raw pixel information and segment images. In this paper we extend those ideas to both segment and track objects in multiframe sequences. It is also desirable for the neural network processing data to learn features for subsequent recognition. A common first step for processing raw data is to transform the data and use the transform coefficients as features for recognition. For example, handwritten English characters become linearly separable in the feature space of the low frequency Fourier coefficients. Much of human visual perception can be modelled by assuming low frequency Fourier as the feature space used by the human visual system. The optimum linear transform, with respect to reconstruction, is the Karhunen-Loeve transform (KLT). It has been shown that some neural network architectures can compute approximations to the KLT. The KLT coefficients can be used for recognition as well as for compression. We tested the use of the KLT on the problem of interfacing a nonverbal patient to a computer. The KLT uses an optimal basis set for object reconstruction. For object recognition, the KLT may not be optimal.