Real-time detection of faces in video streams

[EN]This paper describes a face detection system which goes beyond traditional approaches normally designed for still images. First the video stream context is considered to apply the detector, and therefore, the resulting system is designed taking into consideration a main feature available in a video stream, i.e. temporal coherence. The resulting system builds a feature based model for each detected face, and searches them using various model information in the next frame. The results achieved for video stream processing outperform Rowley-Kanade's and Viola-Jones' solutions providing eye and face data in a reduced time with a notable correct detection rate.

Who are you?

[EN]Most automatic recognition systems are focused on recognizing, given a single mug-shot of an individual, any new image of that individual. Most verification systems are designed to authenticate an identity provided by the user. However, the previous work rarely focus on the problem of detecting when a new individual, i.e., an unknown one, is present. The goal of the work presented in this paper deals with the possibility of providing the system with basic tools to detect when a new individual starts an interactive session, in order to allow the system to add or improve an identity model in the database. Experiments carried out with a set of 36 different individuals show promising results.

Extracción automática de nexos léxicos

Programa de doctorado: Simulación numérica en Ciencias y Tecnología

Agency services for the management of distributed energy networks using parallel auction markets

[ES]En las próximas décadas, el sistema de generación, transmisión y distribución de energía eléctrica afrontará los retos más importantes de su historia. La escasez de los recursos energéticos tradicionales, los efectos de los gases invernadero y el aumento imparable ,de la demanda llaman a transitar hacia un nuevo tipo de infraestructura capaz de explotar el potencial que ofrecen las nuevas fuentes de energía renovable, y de conceder autonomía y capacidad de decisión a los usuarios. Este nuevo modelo de red eléctrica es conocido como Smart Grid, y es habitualmente propuesto como una red distribuida, reactiva e inteligente.

Identity and gender recognition using the ENCARA real-time face detector

[EN]This paper presents recognition results based on a PCA representation and classification with SVMs and temporal coherence.

Fast and robust face finding via local context

[EN]In visual surveillance face detection can be an important cue for initializing tracking algorithms. Recent work in psychophics hints at the importance of the local context of a face for robust detection, such as head contours and torso. This paper describes a detector that actively utilizes the idea of local context. The promise is to gain robustness that goes beyond the capabilities of traditional face detection making it particularly interesting for surveillance. The performance of the proposed detector in terms of accuracy and speed is evaluated on data sets from PETS 2000 and PETS 2003 and compared to the object-centered approach. Particular attention is paid to the role of available image resolution.

ENCARA: real-time detection of frontal faces

[EN]This paper describes a real-time approach for face detection and selection of frontal views, for further processing. Typically, face detection papers provide results for a set of single images but the problem of face detection in video streams rarely is tackled. Instead of performing an exhaustive search for every video stream frame a set of opportunistic ideas applied in a cascade fashion and based on temporal and spatial coherence provide promising results in real-time.

Multimodal attention system for an interactive robot

[EN]Social robots are receiving much interest in the robotics community. The most important goal for such robots lies in their interaction capabilities. An attention system is crucial, both as a filter to center the robot’s perceptual resources and as a mean of letting the observer know that the robot has intentionality. In this paper a simple but flexible and functional attentional model is described. The model, which has been implemented in an interactive robot currently under development, fuses both visual and auditive information extracted from the robot’s environment, and can incorporate knowledge-based influences on attention.

The ENCARA system for face detection and normalization

[EN]Facial image processing is becoming widespread in human-computer applications, despite its complexity. High-level processes such as face recognition or gender determination rely on low-level routines that must e ectively detect and normalize the faces that appear in the input image. In this paper, a face detection and normalization system is described. The approach taken is based on a cascade of fast, weak classi ers that together try to determine whether a frontal face is present in the image.

CASIMIRO: a robot head for human-computer interaction

The physical appearance and behavior of a robot is an important asset in terms of Human-Computer Interaction. Multimodality is also fundamental, as we humans usually expect to interact in a natural way with voice, gestures, etc. People approach complex interaction devices with stances similar to those used in their interaction with other people. In this paper we describe a robot head, currently under development, that aims to be a multimodal (vision, voice, gestures,...) perceptual user interface.

Detection of frontal faces in video streams

[EN]This paper describes an approach for detection of frontal faces in real time (20-35Hz) for further processing. This approach makes use of a combination of previous detection tracking and color for selecting interest areas. On those areas, later facial features such as eyes, nose and mouth are searched based on geometric tests, appearance veri cation, temporal and spatial coherence. The system makes use of very simple techniques applied in a cascade approach, combined and coordinated with temporal information for improving performance. This module is a component of a complete system designed for detection, tracking and identi cation of individuals [1].

Integrating an entertainment robot

[EN]In this paper we will present Eldi, a mobile robot that has been in opertation at the Elder Museum of Science and Technology at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria since december 1999. This is an ongoing project that was organized in three different stages of which only the first one has been accomplished. The initial phase, termed "The Player", the second stage, actually under develpment, has been called "The Cicerone" and in the final phase, termed "The Vagabond", in which Eldi will be allowed to move erratically across the Museum. This paper will focus on the accomplished first stage to succinctly describe the physical robot and the environment and demos developed. Finally we will summarize some important lessons learnt.

El método IRDB: aprendizaje incremental para el reconocimiento de caras

[ES]En un problema complejo como es el reconocimiento de caras, donde se utilizan espacios de representación de un número alto de dimensiones, es de gran importancia emplear toda la información disponible. En particular, habrá casos en los que, estando el sistema de reconocimiento en funcionamiento, se acumulará una gran cantidad de información en forma de imágenes faciales con su etiqueta asociada. En este trabajo se propone un algoritmo para utilizar esta información, caso de estar disponible. El algoritmo presenta la principal característica de ser incremental, con lo que la e ciencia del mismo no degenera con el número de imágenes acumuladas...

Estudio experimental sobre la combinación temporal de resultados en el reconocimiento de caras con secuencias de video

[ES]Se ha comprobado que la combinación de los resultados de clasi cación de varias imágenes de una secuencia mejora la probabilidad de acierto en el problema del reconocimiento de caras. No obstante, queda por dilucidar qué método de agregación temporal de los resultados es el más apropiado para cada caso concreto. En sistemas prácticos el método de combinación debe además ser simple para no consumir mucho tiempo de cómputo, teniendo en cuenta que el sistema tendrá otras etapas de proceso con una latencia relativamente alta. En este trabajo se describe un estudio experimental de varios métodos de combinación...

Eldi: an agent based museum robot

[EN]In this paper we will present Eldi, a mobile robot that has been in daily operation at the Elder Museum of Science and Technology at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria since December 1999. This is an ongoing project that was organized in three di erent stages, describing here the one that has been accomplished. The initial phase, termed \The Player", the second stage, actually under development, has been called "The Cicerone" and in a nal phase, termed \The Vagabond", Eldi will be allowed to move erratically across the Museum. This paper will focus on the accomplished rst stage to succinctly describe the physical robot and the environment and demos developed. Finally we will summarize some important lessons learnt.