Exploring the Applications of Computer Vision: from Autonomous Cars to Precision Agriculture

What is Computer Vision?

If AI enables computers to think, computer vision enables them to see, observe and understand. – IBM

Computer vision develops theory and technology for building artificial systems that obtain information from images or any multidimensional data. Using digital images from cameras and videos and deep learning models, machines can accurately identify and classify objects. For example, if computers process millions of images of cars, they will begin to create identity patterns that can accurately detect a vehicle in an image.

This emerging technology has been adopted by multiple industries, which allows machines to closely decode and obtain data from photos and videos of our real world. In this article, we will introduce three applications of Computer Vision technology in daily life, such as autonomous cars, checkout-free stores and precision agriculture, illustrating the full potential of this transforming technology.

?? Autonomous Cars

Pedestrian detection is a crucial challenge in Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, since variations on different illumination parameters or body attire pose challenges to achieving high accuracy. An accurate pedestrian detection in these dynamic environments can facilitate efficient traffic management, pedestrian flow analysis, and the implementation of targeted safety measures.

Autonomous cars frequently leverage this technology to accurately identify pedestrians in dynamic environments, navigate safely through complex traffic scenarios and thereby improve overall road safety. For instance, Tesla’s autonomous vehicles use 360o cameras that detect their surroundings. These integrated cameras are part of the system’s decision making,?including all the analysis of trajectory planning, driving scene perception and behaviour arbitration, enhancing traffic safety, and reducing crucially the number of accidents.

?? Smart Stores

The adoption of computer vision technology during the COVID-19 pandemic radically changed the retail sector, allowing customers to ”pick up and go”.

Sensei , a Portuguese startup, was one of the first to rethink and transform a new shopping experience. Sensei created the technology that allows physical stores to transform into autonomous spaces, without the need to scan product barcodes, wait in queues for cash registers, or even make physical payments. One of the biggest advantages of this new innovative technology, in addition to improving the consumer experience, is providing companies with information about consumer’s behaviour and monitoring shopper’s activity.

??Quality Control Operations

The Industry sector, where product inspections and quality control is still a manual operation, creates a large impact by adopting computer vision technologies. These automated systems can be used to detect defects in manufacturing processes and ensure that products meet quality standards, for example, by implementing cameras on a production line that capture images, which are then algorithmically compared to a predefined image to detect defective objects. Therefore, Computer Vision offers an effective solution for Industry demands, adding value to inspection operations due to enhanced productivity, the accuracy of manufacturing processes, and the reduction of operational costs. Also, the application of this technology has found major adoption for the detection of imperfections, geometric inspection, packaging control, product classification, surface finish inspection, and colour/texture analysis.

?? Precision Agriculture

The agriculture sector is not the first one that comes to mind when we think about cutting-edge technology. However, agriculture is increasingly introducing new technologies that boost this sector’s productivity.

Computer vision helps analyse plant health, weather, monitor crops, and optimise resources to make informed decisions about planting, irrigation, pest and disease management, harvesting, and other agricultural activities. Therefore, farmers take advantage of useful insights about the entire farming process, facilitating real-time operational decision-making, and enhancing farming practices by introducing on-field smart sensors and devices.

These are just some examples, Computer Vision applications continue to expand, transform industries and improve efficiency and safety in several areas. ??

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