Interaction of algorithm and implementation for analog VLSI stereo vision

Design of a high-speed stereo vision system in analog VLSI technology is reported. The goal is to determine how the advantages of analog VLSI--small area, high speed, and low power-- can be exploited, and how the effects of its principal disadvantages--limited accuracy, inflexibility, and lack of storage capacity--can be minimized. Three stereo algorithms are considered, and a simulation study is presented to examine details of the interaction between algorithm and analog VLSI implementation. The Marr-Poggio-Drumheller algorithm is shown to be best suited for analog VLSI implementation. A CCD/CMOS stereo system implementation is proposed, capable of operation at 6000 image frame pairs per second for 48 X 48 images, and faster than frame rate operation on 256 X 256 binocular image pairs.