Fast wavelet‐based multiresolution image registration on a multiprocessing digital signal processor

Image registration is a fundamental task in image processing. It is used in matching two or more images taken at different times, from different imaging modalities, or from different viewpoints. One of the obstacles in achieving practical acceptance of image registration techniques is their computational complexity, which results in a long response time. In this article we present a fast multiresolution image registration algorithm using wavelet transform for the translational and rotational alignment of two‐dimensional images. In particular, a novel approach to determine the algorithm parameters to balance the registration accuracy and computational requirement is also described. We implemented this algorithm on a PC‐based multimedia and imaging system using a multiprocessing digital signal processor. The algorithm is capable of achieving a subpixel registration accuracy reliably under various noise levels. The multiresolution algorithm implemented on this desktop system was able to register two 256 × 256 images in 466 ms, which is 40 times faster than the uniresolution exhaustive search approach. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 9, 29–37, 1998