Soft Computing based object detection and tracking approaches: State-of-the-Art survey

Abstract In recent years, analysis and interpretation of video sequences to detect and track objects of interest had become an active research field in computer vision and image processing. Detection and tracking includes extraction of moving object from frames and continuous tracking it thereafter forming persistent object trajectories over time. There are some really smart techniques proposed by researchers for efficient and robust detection or tracking of objects in videos. A comprehensive coverage of such innovative techniques for which solutions have been motivated by theories of soft computing approaches is proposed. The main objective of this research investigation is to study and highlight efforts of researchers who had conducted some brilliant work on soft computing based detection and tracking approaches in video sequence. The study is novel as it traces rise of soft computing methods in field of object detection and tracking in videos which has been neglected over the years. The survey is compilation of studies on neural network, deep learning, fuzzy logic, evolutionary algorithms, hybrid and recent innovative approaches that have been applied to field of detection and tracking. The paper also highlights benchmark datasets available to researchers for experimentation and validation of their own algorithms. Major research challenges in the field of detection and tracking along with some recommendations are also provided. The paper provides number of analyses to guide future directions of research and advocates for more applications of soft computing approaches for object detection and tracking approaches in videos. The paper is targeted at young researchers who will like to see it as platform for introduction to a mature and relatively complex field. The study will be helpful in appropriate use of an existing method for systematically designing a new approach or improving performance of existing approaches.