A simple and robust edge detection scheme based on coupled oscillatory diffusion system

Edge is the most used and important segmentation feature in most of the object based image processing applications. Primary challenging issues with all the edge detectors are their adaptability for different scenes, noise immunity and most importantly complexity of implementation which can hinder real time performance for high resolution images. In this paper, we have proposed a novel, efficient and simple edge detection scheme which can be implemented on pixel level parallel architecture providing very high throughput. The detector is based on coupled oscillators applied over diffused image. Simultaneous solution of two time evolving linear difference equations produces edges on diffused intensity profile. The proposed system is inspired from FitzHugh Nagumo oscillator based edge detector but comparatively much simpler and produces better output on the standard precision-recall benchmark. The proposed detector is less dependent on control parameter (threshold) variation and thus suitable for real time edge detection of live video.

[1]  Jitendra Malik,et al.  Learning to detect natural image boundaries using local brightness, color, and texture cues , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence.

[2]  Charless C. Fowlkes,et al.  Contour Detection and Hierarchical Image Segmentation , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence.

[3]  Jitendra Malik,et al.  Scale-Space and Edge Detection Using Anisotropic Diffusion , 1990, IEEE Trans. Pattern Anal. Mach. Intell..

[4]  Hidetoshi Miike,et al.  Image edge detection with discretely spaced FitzHugh-Nagumo type excitable elements , 2011, Proceedings of the Joint INDS'11 & ISTET'11.

[5]  Hidetoshi Miike,et al.  Realizing visual functions with the reaction-diffusion mechanism , 2003 .

[6]  I.E. Abdou,et al.  Quantitative design and evaluation of enhancement/thresholding edge detectors , 1979, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[7]  Koushik Maharatna,et al.  Dynamical System Approach for Edge Detection Using Coupled FitzHugh–Nagumo Neurons , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Image Processing.

[8]  H. Miike,et al.  Edge detection with reaction-diffusion equations having a local average threshold , 2008, Pattern Recognition and Image Analysis.

[9]  K D Mohana Sundaram,et al.  A Distributed Canny Edge Detector and Its Implementation on FPGA , 2018 .

[10]  Rafael C. González,et al.  Local Determination of a Moving Contrast Edge , 1985, IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence.