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[Studies in Computational Intelligence 481] Artur Babiarz, Robert Bieda, Karol Jędrasiak, Aleksander Nawrat (auth.), Aleksander Nawrat, Zygmunt Kuś (eds.) - Vision Based Systemsfor UAV Applications (2013, Sprin

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<strong>Vision</strong> System for Group of Mobile Robots 145<br />

2.2 Background Subtraction and Shadow Removal<br />

The algorithm uses simple RGB (8 bits per channel) background model built by<br />

averag<strong>in</strong>g 100 images from camera. Background subtraction is based on a difference<br />

image and simple threshold, explicitly set by the user. To calculate the image<br />

conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g per-pixel differences between correspond<strong>in</strong>g pixels from background<br />

model image and <strong>in</strong>put image the Chebyshev metric is used. It operates slightly<br />

better than simple Euclidean or City Block (Manhattan) metric. Obta<strong>in</strong>ed difference<br />

image is then a subject to simple threshold<strong>in</strong>g which results <strong>in</strong> b<strong>in</strong>ary image.<br />

The <strong>in</strong>troduction to the problem of background subtraction can be found <strong>in</strong> [4].<br />

There are four lamps <strong>in</strong>stalled over the play<strong>in</strong>g field which not only provide<br />

light for camera, but also create quite large shadows. Shadow <strong>in</strong>troduces false<br />

colors to the image which degrade the precision of objects position<strong>in</strong>g. Thus the<br />

need for shadow removal algorithm.<br />

Fortunately, <strong>in</strong> this particular case, shadow removal is trivial task. The background<br />

consists ma<strong>in</strong>ly of very dark, almost black areas and the shadow is not<br />

colored. It is then enough to treat all pixels darker than certa<strong>in</strong> threshold as unconditionally<br />

belong<strong>in</strong>g to the background. The algorithm simply checks all pixels of<br />

<strong>in</strong>put image and if one is darker than specified threshold, it is replaced by the<br />

background pixel. This algorithm is simple and efficient. Result of apply<strong>in</strong>g it to<br />

the <strong>in</strong>put image is shown on the Figure 5.<br />

Fig. 5. Results of apply<strong>in</strong>g shadow removal algorithm<br />

It is obvious that apply<strong>in</strong>g this technique limits the range of colors that can be<br />

used as color markers to rather bright ones, however this is not a real problem, as<br />

brightness of typical colors used <strong>in</strong> RoboSoccer is at least twice as high as the<br />

threshold value used for shadow removal algorithm.

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