Object Class Estimation Using Acoustic and Visual Data Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image-based estimation technologies face challenges in accurately estimating the class of objects, especially when image quality is poor due to factors like blurriness, occlusion, or adverse environmental conditions such as low illuminance, fog, or rain.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device and method that utilize an estimation unit to classify acoustically useful objects based on both visual input images and collected acoustic data, improving estimation accuracy even in suboptimal imaging conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If image-based estimation is used to classify objects, then the system is simple and fast, but estimation accuracy deteriorates under poor image quality conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines visual data from images and acoustic data from audio signals into a unified estimation system. The object class estimation unit integrates features from both modalities (visual features from the image and acoustic features from the audio signal) to perform joint classification, thereby improving accuracy under poor image quality conditions while maintaining reasonable system complexity through integrated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an object class estimation unit as an intermediary that processes both visual and acoustic information. This unit acts as a mediator that fuses multi-modal data and produces the final object class estimation, allowing the system to overcome limitations of single-modality approaches without requiring complex separate processing chains.
2Measurement precision
If acoustic data is collected and processed to improve estimation accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but loss of time increases due to additional data collection and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by collecting acoustic data simultaneously with image capture rather than as a subsequent step. The acoustic feature extraction occurs in parallel with visual feature extraction, and both feature sets are fed into the object class estimation unit together, eliminating sequential processing delays and reducing overall time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by having the object class estimation unit continuously process both visual and acoustic features in an integrated manner. The system does not pause for separate acoustic analysis but rather processes both modalities concurrently, ensuring continuous estimation without interruptions that would increase time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
[Problem] The estimation accuracy of a class of an object is to be effectively improved. [Means of Solution] Provided is an information processing device including an estimation unit that estimates, based on an input image, a class of an object that is present in a real environment corresponding to an imaging range of the input image, wherein the object includes an acoustically useful object having an acoustic feature useful for class estimation, and the estimation unit estimates a class of the acoustically useful object based on acoustic data collected from around the acoustically useful object.