Apictorial Jigsaw Puzzles: The Computer Solution of a Problem in Pattern Recognition

This paper describes the development of a procedure that enables a digital computer to solve ``apictorial'' jigsaw puzzles, i.e., puzzles in which all pieces are uniformly gray and the only available information is the shape of the pieces. The problem was selected because it provided an excellent vehicle to develop computer techniques for manipulation of arbitrary geometric patterns, for pattern identification, and for game solving. The kinds of puzzles and their properties are discussed in detail. Methods are described for characterizing and classifying piece contours, for selecting and ordering pieces that are ``most likely'' to mate with a given piece, for determining likelihood of fit, for overcoming ambiguities, and for evaluation of the progressive puzzle assembly. An illustration of an actual computer solution of a puzzle is given.