| The goal of computer vision research is to provide computers with humanlike perception capabilities so that they can sense the environment, understand the sensed data, take appropriate actions, and learn from this experience in order to enhance future performance. The field has evolved from the application of classical pattern recognition and image processing methods to advanced techniques in image understanding like model-based and knowledge-based vision.
In recent years, there has been an increased demand for computer vision systems to address “real-world” problems. However, much of our current models and methodologies do not seem to scale out of limited “toy” domains. Therefore, the current state-of-the-art in computer vision needs significant advancements to deal with real-world applications, such as navigation, target recognition, manufacturing, photo interpretation, remote sensing, etc. It is widely understood that many of these applications require vision algorithms and systems to work under partial occlusion, possibly under high clutter, low contrast, and changing environmental conditions. This requires that the vision techniques should be robust and flexible to optimize performance in a given scenario.
The field of machine learning is driven by the idea that computer algorithms and systems can improve their own performance with time. Machine learning has evolved from the relatively “knowledge-free” general purpose learning system, the “perceptron” [Rosenblatt, 1958], and decision-theoretic approaches for learning [Blockeel and De Raedt, 1998], to symbolic learning of high-level knowledge [Michalski et al., 1986], artificial neural networks [Rowley et al., 1998a], and genetic algorithms [DeJong, 1988]. With the recent advances in hardware and software, a variety of practical applications of the machine learning research is emerging [Segre, 1992]. |