Image Item Identification Using Height-Based Search Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Identifying and tracking items in images is computationally intensive and time-consuming, especially when multiple items are present, making it incompatible with real-time applications, and maintaining accuracy in dynamic environments is challenging due to shifts in camera, 3D sensor, and platform positions.
Innovation Solution
A system using cameras and 3D sensors to capture and process images, select optimal camera views, and recalibrate based on detected shifts, along with techniques for intelligent triggering event detection and item association, reducing computational load and improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If feature identification is performed for every item in the image against the entire database, then identification accuracy is maintained, but processing time increases significantly and real-time performance is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the identification process into two stages: first segmenting items by height to create distinct groups, then performing feature identification only within each height segment. This divides the large database search into multiple smaller searches, reducing overall processing time while maintaining accuracy within each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary height-based filtering before conducting detailed feature identification. By pre-segmenting items based on height measurements obtained from the depth image, the system eliminates irrelevant items from the search space before the computationally intensive feature comparison step, thereby reducing processing time.
2Productivity
If multiple items are simultaneously identified and tracked, then system productivity increases, but computational complexity increases making the process intractable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments both the items and the processing workflow based on height. Items are grouped into height-based segments, and the identification process is segmented to handle each segment independently. This reduces the computational complexity from O(n*m) to O(k*(n/m)*m) where k is the number of height segments, making simultaneous multi-item identification tractable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary height-based classification of all items in the scene before initiating detailed identification procedures. This preliminary action creates an organized structure that simplifies subsequent processing of multiple items, allowing the system to scale to handle more items simultaneously without exponential complexity growth.
3Measurement precision
If user scanning or manual identification is required, then identification accuracy is ensured, but system throughput decreases due to user bottleneck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic identification systems that perform item recognition without requiring user scanning or manual input. The depth camera and processing system work autonomously to identify items based on their height and visual features, eliminating the user bottleneck and increasing system throughput while maintaining accuracy through multi-feature verification.
Data Source
AI summary
A device detects a triggering event that corresponds to a placement of a first item on a platform. In response, the device captures an image of the first item and generates a first encoded vector for the image. The first encoded vector describes one or more attributes of the first item. The device determines a height of the first item. The device identifies one or more items in an encoded vector library that are associated with average heights within a threshold range from the determined height of the first item. The device compares the first encoded vector with a second encoded vector associated with a second item from among the one or more items. The device determines that the first encoded vector corresponds to the second encoded vector. In response, the device determines that the first item corresponds to the second item.