Quadratic Curve Fitting-Based Image Edge Line Segment Detection: A Novel Methodology

In the field of computer vision, edge line segment detection in images is widely used in tasks such as 3D reconstruction and simultaneous localization and mapping. Currently, there are many algorithms that primarily focus on detecting straight line segments in undistorted images, but they do not perform well in detecting edge line segments in distorted images. To address this quandary, the present study introduces a novel method of line segment identification founded on the principles of quadratic fitting. The method proposed utilizes the inherent property of a linear projection in a three-dimensional space, whereby it appears as a quadratic curve in a distorted two-dimensional image. This approach applies an iterative estimation process to ascertain the optimal parameters of the quadratic form that aligns with the edge contour. This process is facilitated by implementing an assumption and validation mechanism. Upon deriving the optimal model, it is then employed to identify the line segments that are encompassed within the edge contour. The experimental assessment of this novel method incorporates its application to both distorted and distortion-free image datasets. The method eliminates the necessity for preliminary processing to discarding distortions, thereby making it universally applicable to both distorted and non-distorted images. In addition to this, the experimental results based on the dataset indicate that the proposed algorithm in this paper achieves an average computational efficiency that is 27 times faster than traditional ones. Thus, this research will contribute to line segment detection in computer vision.