Partial shape matching using genetic algorithms

Shape recognition is a challenging task when images contain overlapping, noisy, occluded, partial shapes. This paper addresses the task of matching input shapes with model shapes described in terms of features such as line segments and angles. The quality of matching is gauged using a measure derived from attributed shape grammars. We apply genetic algorithms to the partial shape-matching task. Preliminary results, using model shapes with 6 to 70 features each, are extremely encouraging. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.