The human ability to recognize objects on various backgrounds is amazing. Many times, industrial image processing tried to imitate this ability by its own techniques. This book discusses the recognition of defects on free-form edges and - homogeneous surfaces. My many years of experience has shown that such a task can be solved e?ciently only under particular conditions. Inevitably, the following questions must be answered: How did the defect come about? How and why is a person able to recognize a speci?c defect? In short, one needs an analysis of the process of defect creation as well as an analysis of its detection. As soon as the principle of these processes is understood, the processes can be described mathematically on the basis of an appropriate physical model and can then be captured in an algorithm for defect detection. This approach can be described as “image processing from a physicist’s perspective”. I have successfully used this approach in the development of several industrial image processingsystemsandimprovedupontheminthecourseoftime.Iwouldlike to present the achieved results in a hands-on book on the basis of edge-based algorithms for defect detection on edges and surfaces. I would like to thank all who have supported me in writing this book.

This book gives a comprehensive overview of the most advanced theories, methodologies and applications in computer vision. Particularly, it gives an extensive coverage of 3D and robotic vision problems. Example chapters featured are Fourier methods for 3D surface modeling and analysis, use of constraints for calibration-free 3D Euclidean reconstruction, novel photogeometric methods for capturing static and dynamic objects, performance evaluation of robot localization methods in outdoor terrains, integrating 3D vision with force/tactile sensors, tracking via in-floor sensing, self-calibration of camera networks, etc. Some unique applications of computer vision in marine fishery, biomedical issues, driver assistance, are also highlighted.

Defect Recognition and Image Processing in Semiconductors 1997 provides a valuable overview of current techniques used to assess, monitor, and characterize defects from the atomic scale to inhomogeneities in complete silicon wafers. This volume addresses advances in defect analyzing techniques and instrumentation and their application to substrates, epilayers, and devices. The book discusses the merits and limits of characterization techniques; standardization; correlations between defects and device performance, including degradation and failure analysis; and the adaptation and application of standard characterization techniques to new materials. It also examines the impressive advances made possible by the increase in the number of nanoscale scanning techniques now available. The book investigates defects in layers and devices, and examines the problems that have arisen in characterizing gallium nitride and silicon carbide.

The human ability to recognize objects on various backgrounds is amazing. Many times, industrial image processing tried to imitate this ability by its own techniques. This book discusses the recognition of defects on free-form edges and - homogeneous surfaces. My many years of experience has shown that such a task can be solved e?ciently only under particular conditions. Inevitably, the following questions must be answered: How did the defect come about? How and why is a person able to recognize a speci?c defect? In short, one needs an analysis of the process of defect creation as well as an analysis of its detection. As soon as the principle of these processes is understood, the processes can be described mathematically on the basis of an appropriate physical model and can then be captured in an algorithm for defect detection. This approach can be described as “image processing from a physicist’s perspective”. I have successfully used this approach in the development of several industrial image processingsystemsandimprovedupontheminthecourseoftime.Iwouldlike to present the achieved results in a hands-on book on the basis of edge-based algorithms for defect detection on edges and surfaces. I would like to thank all who have supported me in writing this book.

This book is a collection of 11 review technical reports summarizing the presentations at the 2012 Joint Workshop of Fraunhofer IOSB and Vision and Fusion Laboratory at KIT Karlsruhe, made by the students of the both institutions. The topics include image processing, visual inspection, pattern recognition and classification, human-machine interaction, world modeling, and optical signal processing.

Imaging and analysis are widely involved in various research fields, including biomedical applications, medical imaging and diagnosis, computer vision, autonomous driving, and robot controls. Imaging and analysis are now facing big changes regarding intelligence, due to the breakthroughs of artificial intelligence techniques, including deep learning. Many difficulties in image generation, reconstruction, de-noising skills, artifact removal, segmentation, detection, and control tasks are being overcome with the help of advanced artificial intelligence approaches. This Special Issue focuses on the latest developments of learning-based intelligent imaging techniques and subsequent analyses, which include photographic imaging, medical imaging, detection, segmentation, medical diagnosis, computer vision, and vision-based robot control. These latest technological developments will be shared through this Special Issue for the various researchers who are involved with imaging itself, or are using image data and analysis for their own specific purposes.