This book traces progress in photography since the first pinhole, or camera obscura, architecture. The authors describe innovations such as photogrammetry, and omnidirectional vision for robotic navigation. The text shows how new camera architectures create a need to master related projective geometries for calibration, binocular stereo, static or dynamic scene understanding. Written by leading researchers in the field, this book also explores applications of alternative camera architectures.

Pinhole-type cameras are still the dominating brands and are also used in computer vision for understanding 3D scenes based on captured images or videos. However, different applications have pushed for designing alternative architectures of cameras. For example, in photogrammetry, cameras are installed in planes or satellites, and a continuing stream of image data can also be created by capturing images just line by line, one line at a time. As a second example, robots are required to understand scenery in full 360 degrees to be able to react to obstacles or events; a camera looking upward into a parabolic or hyperbolic mirror allows this type of omnidirectional viewing.The development of alternative camera architectures results in a need to understand related projective geometries for the purpose of camera calibration, binocular stereo, static or dynamic scene understanding.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Computer Analysis of Images and Patterns, CAIP '97, held in Kiel, Germany, in September 1997.
The volume presents 92 revised papers selected during a double-blind reviewing process from a total of 150 high-quality submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on pattern analysis, object recognition and tracking, invariants, applications, shape, texture analysis, motion calibration, low-level processing, structure from motion, stereo and correspondence, segmentation and grouping, mathematical morphology, pose estimation, and face analysis.

This monograph, entitled Robotics in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Era, presents the findings and recommendations of a study conducted by the Hellenic Institute of Advanced Study (HIAS).Robotics in the era of artificial intelligence will transform every aspect of society, security, and economy. Agricultural robots can assist farmers in reducing exposure to dangerous spraying pesticides, while selective harvesting for increasing yield and quality operations. Robots with advanced perception can be used for automatic inventory inspection and management. Underwater vehicles can be used for inspecting ship hulls and pipelines or ports, while aerial robots can ensure the delivery of urgent medical supplies in remote islands in the sea or mountainous rural regions. This is not science fiction, the technological revolution described above is starting to happen around the world.By presenting various applications and possibilities, this monograph should appeal to persons involved specifically with robotics, and technology development in general.