Novel motion estimation algorithm for image stabilizer

Abstract

Purpose

The motion vector estimation algorithm is very widely used in many image process applications, such as the image stabilization and object tracking algorithms. The conventional searching algorithm, based on the block matching manipulation, is used to estimate the motion vectors in conventional image processing algorithms. During the block matching manipulation, the violent motion will result in greater amount of computation. However, too large amount of calculation will reduce the effectiveness of the motion vector estimation algorithm. This paper aims to present a novel searching method to estimate the motion vectors effectively.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a novel searching method to estimate the motion vectors for high-resolution image sequences. The searching strategy of this algorithm includes three steps: the larger area searching, the adaptive directional searching and the small area searching.

Findings

The achievement of this paper is to develop a motion vector searching strategy to improve the computation efficiency. Compared with the conventional motion vector searching algorithms, the novel motion vector searching algorithm can reduce the motion matching manipulation effectively by 50 per cent.

Originality/value

This paper presents a novel searching strategy to estimate the motion vectors effectively. From the experimental results, the novel motion vector searching algorithm can reduce the motion matching manipulation effectively, compared with the conventional motion vector searching algorithms.

Citation

Chang, S.-J. and Wang, R.-H. (2017), "Novel motion estimation algorithm for image stabilizer", Engineering Computations, Vol. 34 No. 1, pp. 77-89. https://doi.org/10.1108/EC-11-2015-0345