Machine Vision, 3rd Edition

Appendix A Robust Statistics

A.1 Introduction

Frequently in this volume we have found that noise can interfere with image signals and result in inaccurate measurements—for example, of object shapes, sizes, and positions. Perhaps more important, however, is the fact that signals other than the particular one being focused upon can lead to gross shape distortions and can thus prevent an object from being recognized or even being discerned at all. In many cases, this will render some obvious interpretation algorithm useless, though algorithms with intrinsic “intelligence” may be able to save the day. For this reason the Hough transform has achieved some prominence. Indeed, this approach to image interpretation has frequently been described as ...