Shape comparison of flexible objects - similarity of palm silhouettes

We consider the problem of shape comparison for elastic objects presented by binary bitmaps. Our approach to similarity measuring of such objects is based on the conception of a flexible object. A flexible object is defined as a planar graph with a family of circles centered on graph edges. A set of admissible deformations is connected with each flexible object. These deformations are described as a group of planar graph vertices transforms. We define the flexible objects similarity through matching and alignment within the group of admissible deformations. The regular method for approximation of the binary bitmap shape by the flexible object is presented. The flexible object is designed as a subgraph of continuous skeleton of the binary bitmap. The proposed approach is applied to a problem of palm shape recognition for personal biometrical identification.