Visual anomaly detection via soft computing: a prototype application at NASA

A visual system prototype that detects anomalies or defects in real time under normal lighting operating conditions was built for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The system prototype is basically a learning machine that integrates the three elements of soft computing, Fuzzy Logic (FL), Artif...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Domínguez, Jesús A., Klinko, Steve
Format: article
Publication Date:2003
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repository:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2099/1769
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2099/1769
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Image processing
Fuzzy logic
Artificial neural network
Genetic algorithm
Imatges -- Processament -- Tècniques digitals -- Models matemàtics
Processament electrònic de dades en temps real
Visió artificial (Robòtica)
Classificació AMS::68 Computer science::68T Artificial intelligence
Description
Summary:A visual system prototype that detects anomalies or defects in real time under normal lighting operating conditions was built for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The system prototype is basically a learning machine that integrates the three elements of soft computing, Fuzzy Logic (FL), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and Genetic Algorithm (GA) schemes to process the image, run the learning process, and finally detect the anomalies or defects. The system acquires the image, performs segmentation to separate the object being tested from the background, preprocesses the image using fuzzy reasoning, performs the final segmentation using fuzzy reasoning techniques to retrieve regions with potential anomalies or defects, and finally retrieves them using a learning model built via artificial neural network optimized using genetic algorithm techniques. This prototype system was originally tested on the detection of anomaly or defects at slidewires used in the emergency egress system at the NASA Space Shuttle launch pad at KSC. The prototype system successfully detected all defects classified under "loose strand". The imaging technologies based on fuzzy reasoning approach and created to preprocess the images have received NASA Space Awards and are currently being filed for patents by NASA; companies from different fields including security, medical, text digitalization and aerospace, are currently in the process of licensing these technologies from NASA.