Braille block recognition by analyzing autocorrelation patterns
Hiroyuki Arai · 2024
In this study, we propose a method for detecting Braille blocks with dot-pattern from images, aimed at assisting the mobility of visually impaired individuals. Braille blocks, installed on sidewalks and pathways, consist of circular protrusions (dots) arranged periodically. By detecting the dots in an image and assessing whether they are regularly spaced, it seems possible to selectively detect dot-pattern blocks. However, accurately detecting each dot from an image is challenging due to the diversity in the material, size, and three-dimensional shape of the dots. In this research, we propose a detection method for dot-pattern blocks that focuses on the simple dot patterns appearing in autocorrelation images, which reflect the dot patterns in the original image well and can be detected more stably than in the original image.