Fast Monocular Bayesian Detection of Independently Moving Objects by a Moving Observer

A fast algorithm for the detection of independently moving objects by an also moving observer by means of investigating optical flow fields is presented. Since the measurement of optical flow is a computationally expensive operation, it is necessary to restrict the number of flow measurements. The proposed algorithm uses two different ways to determine the positions, where optical flow is calculated. A part of the positions is determined using a particle filter, while the other part of the positions is determined using a random variable, which is distributed according to an initialization distribution. This approach results in a restricted number of optical flow calculations leading to a robust real time detection of independently moving objects on standard consumer PCs.