Real-Time Scene Sign/Text Detection for Location Awareness and Navigation

"We have developed an innovative approach to signboard/text detection in scene images. Our approaches has several advantageous over conventional approaches in its ability to provide accurate results for both outdoor and indoor conditions, arbitraryperspective appearance and orientation of the signboard in the scene. In this project, we will develop and demonstrate a pc-based low cost visual sign/text detection and recognition system to provide enhanced information perception for location awarenessand navigation for autonomous robot environment. The computational characteristics of our approach also make it amenable to real-time applications, in contrast with conventional approach that often operate only offline and in controlled environment, suchas caption text in foreign movies. Our technology will enable autonomous robots to function effectively in environments designed for humans. Especially in hostile environments in the presence of chemical or biological agents harmful to people, suchrobots will be very useful in rescue and surveillance operations and hazardous material handling. Our technology will also enable vision-impaired people to comfortably interact with the environment, and improve their quality of life."