Award Abstract # 0622006
A Closed-Loop Filtering Framework for Active Contours

NSF Org: ECCS
Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems
Recipient: GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORP
Initial Amendment Date: September 11, 2006
Latest Amendment Date: July 14, 2009
Award Number: 0622006
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Radhakisan Baheti
ECCS
 Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems
ENG
 Directorate for Engineering
Start Date: September 1, 2006
End Date: August 31, 2010 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $0.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $249,994.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2006 = $237,994.00
FY 2009 = $12,000.00
History of Investigator:
  • Patricio Vela (Principal Investigator)
    pvela@ece.gatech.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
926 DALNEY ST NW
ATLANTA
GA  US  30318-6395
(404)894-4819
Sponsor Congressional District: 05
Primary Place of Performance: Georgia Institute of Technology
225 NORTH AVE NW
ATLANTA
GA  US  30332-0002
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
05
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): EMW9FC8J3HN4
Parent UEI: EMW9FC8J3HN4
NSF Program(s): EPCN-Energy-Power-Ctrl-Netwrks
Primary Program Source: app-0106 
01000910DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 0000, 093E, 106E, 7238, 9251, OTHR
Program Element Code(s): 760700
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.041

ABSTRACT

The project described in this proposal seeks to a develop a framework for generating robust
computer vision algorithms for use in closed-loop systems. A principal goal of the research endeavour
is to examine the role that control theory may play in enhancing closed-loop computer vision
algorithms.
Intellectual Merit. As a sensor, the imaging system can be wrought with noise, either through
the actual sensing process or through the geometry of the imaged scene. Consequently, the computer
vision process can be interpreted as a signal processing task in the presence of noise and uncertainy.
This is further compounded for closed-loop vision systems, because the control effort can induce
additional disturbances.
Through an analysis of the classical Luenberger observer for finite- dimensional systems, the PI
proposes to systematically build up a similar framework for filtering of closed curves, which are the
by-products of th e computer vision algorithms known as active contours. Essentially, this research
endeavour involves the development of a Kalman filter algorithm for closed curves, and involves a
principled predict and update scheme. The main investigative challenge lies in the fact that closed
curves form an infinite-dimensional space which classical state-space observer theory is not capable
of handling.
Broader Impact. The successful consideration of computer vision algorithms as components of
a control and dynamical system has the ability to tremendously increase their level of robustness,
without severely complicating the nature of their processing. As a particular application demonstrating
the potential impact and challenges of this research avenue within a specific area, the PI
seeks to study the closed-loop control and estimation of bio-membranes at the mico-scale. The observer
concept described herein has the capacity to improve the signal generated from vision-based
algorithms that form the main information pathway of a closed-loop process.
The proposed education plan incorporates many of these ideas into existing computer vision
courses, as they are essential components in the use of computer vision for feedback-driven systems.
Secondly, summer research and senior-design projects are anticipated to motivate the importance
of control and dynamical systems theory for computer vision.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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P.A. Vela, M. Niethammer, G.D. Pryor, A.R. Tannenbaum, and R. Butts "Knowledge-Based Segmentation for Tracking Through Deep Turbulence" IEEE Journal on Control System Technologies , v.16 , 2008 , p.469
Teizer, J. and Vela, P.A. "Personnel tracking on construction sites using video cameras" Advanced Engineering Informatics , v.23 , 2009 , p.4 10.1016/j.aei.2009.06.011

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