Decomposition of a Visual Scene into Three-Dimensional Bodies

Abstract

The program described here takes as its input a collection of lines, vertices and surfaces describing a scene, and analyzes the scene into a composition of three-dimensional objects. The program does not need to know the form (model, or pattern) of the objects which are likely to appear: the scene is not searched for cubes, wedges, or houses, with an a-priori knowledge of the form of these objects; rather, the program pays attention to configurations of surfaces and lines which would make plausible three-dimensional solids, and in this way "bodies" are identified. Partially occluded bodies are handled correctly. The program is restricted to scenes formed by straight lines, where no shadows or noise are present. It has been tested in rather complicated scenes composed by rather simple objects. Examples are given.