Introduction to computer vision

Photo by Ion Fet on Unsplash

Introduction to computer vision

Computer vision is a field of artificial intelligence that focuses on enabling computers to understand and interpret visual data from the world around them, such as images and videos. It plays a crucial role in various applications, such as self-driving cars, facial recognition systems, and medical image analysis.

One of the main goals of computer vision is to replicate the human visual system and its ability to recognize patterns, objects, and scenes. To achieve this, computer vision algorithms use techniques such as feature extraction, image segmentation, and machine learning to analyze and interpret visual data.

One key aspect of computer vision is image processing, which involves manipulating and enhancing the quality of images to extract useful information. This can include tasks such as correcting distortion, removing noise, and highlighting certain features in an image.

Another important aspect is object recognition, which involves identifying and classifying objects in an image or video. This can be done using machine learning algorithms that are trained on a large dataset of labeled images.

Other applications of computer vision include image and video analysis, 3D reconstruction, and augmented reality. In image and video analysis, algorithms can be used to analyze the content of images and videos, such as detecting people, cars, or animals. 3D reconstruction involves creating a 3D model of a scene or object from 2D images, while augmented reality involves overlaying digital information on top of the real world.

Overall, computer vision has the potential to revolutionize a wide range of industries and has already had a significant impact in fields such as robotics, healthcare, and transportation. It is an exciting and rapidly-evolving field that continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with artificial intelligence.

Classification

In computer vision, classification refers to the process of assigning input data to one of several predefined categories or classes. Depending on the number of classes, classification can be either binary or multi-class.

Binary classification involves assigning input data to one of two classes. It is a special case of multi-class classification, where there are only two classes. Examples of binary classification tasks in computer vision include detecting the presence or absence of an object in an image (e.g., pedestrian detection in self-driving cars) or identifying the sentiment of a text message as positive or negative.

On the other hand, multi-class classification involves assigning input data to one of several classes. This can be more challenging than binary classification, as the model needs to learn the differences between multiple classes. Examples of multi-class classification tasks in computer vision include object recognition (e.g., identifying different types of objects in an image) and scene classification (e.g., identifying the type of scene in an image).

To perform classification, machine learning algorithms use techniques such as feature extraction, image segmentation, and machine learning to analyze and interpret the input data. In feature extraction, the algorithm extracts relevant features from the input data, such as edges, corners, or texture patterns, that can be used to distinguish between the different classes. Image segmentation involves dividing the input image into regions or segments based on certain criteria, such as color or texture. Machine learning algorithms, such as decision trees, support vector machines, or neural networks, are then used to learn the relationships between the extracted features and the class labels, and to make predictions on new, unseen examples.

Overall, classification is a crucial task in computer vision, with applications in a wide range of fields, such as robotics, healthcare, and transportation. It is an important tool for enabling computers to understand and interpret visual data from the world around them.

Here is an example of binary classification implemented using PyTorch:

import torch
import torch.nn as nn
import torch.optim as optim
from torch.utils.data import DataLoader

# Define the model
class Net(nn.Module):
    def __init__(self, input_size, hidden_size, output_size):
        super(Net, self).__init__()
        self.fc1 = nn.Linear(input_size, hidden_size)
        self.relu = nn.ReLU()
        self.fc2 = nn.Linear(hidden_size, output_size)
        self.sigmoid = nn.Sigmoid()

    def forward(self, x):
        x = self.fc1(x)
        x = self.relu(x)
        x = self.fc2(x)
        x = self.sigmoid(x)
        return x

# Set the device
device = torch.device("cuda" if torch.cuda.is_available() else "cpu")

# Load the training data
X_train = ... # features of the training examples
y_train = ... # class labels of the training examples

# Convert the data to tensors
X_train = torch.from_numpy(X_train).float().to(device)
y_train = torch.from_numpy(y_train).long().to(device)

# Create the model
input_size = X_train.shape[1]
hidden_size = 128
output_size = 2
model = Net(input_size, hidden_size, output_size)
model.to(device)

# Define the loss function and the optimizer
criterion = nn.CrossEntropyLoss()
optimizer = optim.SGD(model.parameters(), lr=0.01)

# Train the model
for epoch in range(100):
    # Forward pass
    outputs = model(X_train)
    loss = criterion(outputs, y_train)

    # Backward pass and optimization
    optimizer.zero_grad()
    loss.backward()
    optimizer.step()

    # Print the loss
    if (epoch+1) % 10 == 0:
        print(f'Epoch {epoch+1}: Loss = {loss.item():.4f}')

# Save the model
torch.save(model.state_dict(), 'model.pt')

In this example, we are using a simple feedforward neural network with two fully-connected layers as the classifier. We first define the model by subclassing the nn.Module class and implementing the __init__ and forward methods. We then load the training data and convert it to tensors, which are the data type used by PyTorch. We create the model and move it to the specified device (CPU or GPU).

Next, we define the loss function (cross-entropy loss) and the optimizer (stochastic gradient descent). We then loop through the training data and perform the forward and backward passes to update the model parameters. We also print the loss at each epoch to track the training progress. Finally, we save the trained model using the state_dict method.

To evaluate the model on the test data, you can load the test data and convert it to tensors, then use the model.eval() method to set the model to evaluation mode, and finally use the model(X_test) expression to make predictions on the test data and calculate the evaluation metrics, such as the accuracy or the F1 score.

Object Detection

Detection in computer vision refers to the task of identifying the presence, location, and type of objects or features in an image or video. It is a crucial task that plays a vital role in various applications, such as object tracking, image and video analysis, and robotics.

There are several approaches to object detection, including traditional methods based on hand-crafted features and machine learning algorithms, as well as more recent methods based on deep learning.

Traditional methods for object detection typically involve extracting relevant features from the input image, such as edges, corners, or texture patterns, and using machine learning algorithms to learn the relationships between these features and the presence of objects in the image. These methods can be effective but can be limited by the quality of the extracted features and the complexity of the objects to be detected.

Deep learning methods, on the other hand, can learn to extract features automatically from the input data and can handle more complex objects. These methods typically use convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to learn a function that maps the input image to a set of bounding boxes and class labels for the objects in the image. There are several popular CNN architectures for object detection, such as Faster R-CNN, YOLO, and SSD.

To train an object detection model, a large dataset of labeled images is typically required, where each image is annotated with the bounding boxes and class labels of the objects in the image. The model is then trained to predict these bounding boxes and class labels for new, unseen images.

Overall, object detection is a complex task that requires the integration of various techniques, such as feature extraction, image segmentation, and machine learning or deep learning, to accurately identify and locate objects in images or videos.

Here is an example of object detection implemented using PyTorch and the popular YOLO (You Only Look Once) architecture:

import torch
import torchvision
from torchvision.models.detection.faster_rcnn import FastRCNNPredictor

# Load the model
model = torchvision.models.detection.fasterrcnn_resnet50_fpn(pretrained=True)

# Replace the classifier with a new one
num_classes = 2 # Number of classes
in_features = model.roi_heads.box_predictor.cls_score.in_features
model.roi_heads.box_predictor = FastRCNNPredictor(in_features, num_classes)

# Set the device
device = torch.device("cuda" if torch.cuda.is_available() else "cpu")
model.to(device)

# Load the data
X_train = ... # features of the training examples
y_train = ... # class labels of the training examples

# Convert the data to tensors
X_train = torch.from_numpy(X_train).float().to(device)
y_train = torch.from_numpy(y_train).long().to(device)

# Define the loss function and the optimizer
criterion = torch.nn.CrossEntropyLoss()
optimizer = torch.optim.SGD(model.parameters(), lr=0.005, momentum=0.9)

# Train the model
for epoch in range(100):
    # Forward pass
    outputs = model(X_train)
    loss = criterion(outputs[0], y_train)

    # Backward pass and optimization
    optimizer.zero_grad()
    loss.backward()
    optimizer.step()

    # Print the loss
    if (epoch+1) % 10 == 0:
        print(f'Epoch {epoch+1}: Loss = {loss.item():.4f}')

# Save the model
torch.save(model.state_dict(), 'model.pt')

In this example, we are using a pretrained Faster R-CNN model with a ResNet-50 backbone and a Feature Pyramid Network (FPN) for object detection. We first load the model and replace the classifier with a new one that has the desired number of classes. We then move the model to the specified device (CPU or GPU).

Next, we load the training data and convert it to tensors, which are the data type used by PyTorch. We then define the loss function (cross-entropy loss) and the optimizer (stochastic gradient descent). We then loop through the training data and perform the forward and backward passes to update the model parameters. We also print the loss at each epoch to track the training progress. Finally, we save the trained model using the state_dict method.

To evaluate the model on the test data, you can load the test data and convert it to tensors, then use the model.eval() method to set the model to evaluation mode, and finally use the model(X_test)

Segmentation

Segmentation in computer vision refers to the process of dividing an image into different regions or segments based on certain criteria, such as color, texture, or object boundaries. It is an important task that plays a crucial role in various applications, such as object recognition, image and video analysis, and robotics.

There are several approaches to image segmentation, including traditional methods based on hand-crafted features and machine learning algorithms, as well as more recent methods based on deep learning.

Traditional methods for image segmentation typically involve extracting relevant features from the input image, such as edges, corners, or texture patterns, and using machine learning algorithms to learn the relationships between these features and the regions in the image. These methods can be effective but can be limited by the quality of the extracted features and the complexity of the objects in the image.

Deep learning methods, on the other hand, can learn to extract features automatically from the input data and can handle more complex images. These methods typically use convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to learn a function that maps the input image to a segmentation map, where each pixel in the image is assigned a label indicating the class or object to which it belongs. There are several popular CNN architectures for image segmentation, such as U-Net and Mask R-CNN.

To train an image segmentation model, a large dataset of labeled images is typically required, where each image is annotated with a segmentation map indicating the class or object to which each pixel belongs. The model is then trained to predict the segmentation map for new, unseen images.

Here is an example of image segmentation implemented using PyTorch and the U-Net architecture:

import torch
import torch.nn as nn
import torch.optim as optim
from torch.utils.data import DataLoader

# Define the model
class UNet(nn.Module):
    def __init__(self, in_channels, out_channels):
        super(UNet, self).__init__()

        self.conv1 = nn.Conv2d(in_channels, 64, 3, padding=1)
        self.relu1 = nn.ReLU()
        self.conv2 = nn.Conv2d(64, 64, 3, padding=1)
        self.relu2 = nn.ReLU()
        self.maxpool = nn.MaxPool2d(2)

        self.conv3 = nn.Conv2d(64, 128, 3, padding=1)
        self.relu3 = nn.ReLU()
        self.conv4 = nn.Conv2d(128, 128, 3, padding=1)
        self.relu4 = nn.ReLU()

        self.conv5 = nn.Conv2d(128, 256, 3, padding=1)
        self.relu5 = nn.ReLU()
        self.conv6 = nn.Conv2d(256, 256, 3, padding=1)
        self.relu6 = nn.ReLU()

        self.conv7 = nn.Conv2d(256, 512, 3, padding=1)
        self.relu7 = nn.ReLU()
        self.conv8 = nn.Conv2d(512, 512, 3, padding=1)
        self.relu8 = nn.ReLU()

        self.upconv1 = nn.ConvTranspose2d(512, 256, 2, stride=2)
        self.conv9 = nn.Conv2d(512, 256, 3, padding=1)
        self.relu9 = nn.ReLU()
        self.conv10 = nn.Conv2d(256, 256, 3, padding=1)
        self.relu10 = nn.ReLU()

        self.upconv2 = nn.ConvTranspose2d(256, 128, 2, stride=2)
        self.conv11 = nn.Conv2d(256, 128, 3, padding=1)
        self.relu11 = nn.ReLU()
        self.conv12 = nn.Conv2d(128, 128, 3, padding=1)
        self.relu12 = nn.ReLU()

        self.upconv3 = nn.ConvTranspose2d(128, 64, 2, stride=2)
        self.conv13 = nn.Conv2d(128, 64, 3, padding=1)
        self.relu13 = nn.ReLU()
        self.conv14 = nn.Conv2d(64, 64, 3, padding=1)
        self.relu14 = nn.ReLU()

        self.conv15 = nn.Conv2d(64, out_channels, 1)    


        def forward(self, x):
            x1 = self.conv1(x)
            x1 = self.relu1(x1)
            x2 = self.conv2(x1)
            x2 = self.relu2(x2)
            x3 = self.maxpool(x2)

            x4 = self.conv3(x3)
            x4 = self.relu3(x4)
            x5 = self.conv4(x4)
            x5 = self.relu4(x5)
            x6 = self.maxpool(x5)

            x7 = self.conv5(x6)
            x7 = self.relu5(x7)
            x8 = self.conv6(x7)
            x8 = self.relu6(x8)
            x9 = self.maxpool(x8)

            x10 = self.conv7(x9)
            x10 = self.relu7(x10)
            x11 = self.conv8(x10)
            x11 = self.relu8(x11)

            x12 = self.upconv1(x11)
            x13 = torch.cat((x12, x8), dim=1)
            x13 = self.conv9(x13)
            x13 = self.relu9(x13)
            x14 = self.conv10(x13)
            x14 = self.relu10(x14)

            x15 = self.upconv2(x14)
            x16 = torch.cat((x15, x5), dim=1)
            x16 = self.conv11(x16)
            x16 = self.relu11(x16)
            x17 = self.conv12(x16)
            x17 = self.relu12(x17)

            x18 = self.upconv3(x17)
            x19 = torch.cat((x18, x2), dim=1)
            x19 = self.conv13(x19)
            x19 = self.relu13(x19)
            x20 = self.conv14(x19)
            x20 = self.relu14(x20)

            x21 = self.conv15(x20)

            return x21
# Set the device
device = torch.device("cuda" if torch.cuda.is_available() else "cpu")

# Load the data
X_train = ... # features of the training examples
y_train = ... # segmentation maps of the training examples
X_test = ... # features of the test examples
y_test = ... # segmentation maps of the test examples

# Convert the data to tensors
X_train = torch.from_numpy(X_train).float().to(device)
y_train = torch.from_numpy(y_train).long().to(device)
X_test = torch.from_numpy(X_test).float().to(device)
y_test = torch.from_numpy(y_test).long().to(device)

# Define the model
model = UNet(in_channels=3, out_channels=2).to(device)

# Define the loss function and the optimizer
criterion = nn.CrossEntropyLoss()
optimizer = optim.SGD(model.parameters(), lr=0.005, momentum=0.9)

# Define the dataloader
train_dataloader = DataLoader(list(zip(X_train, y_train)), batch_size=32, shuffle=True)
test_dataloader = DataLoader(list(zip(X_test, y_test)), batch_size=32, shuffle=False)

# Train the model
for epoch in range(100):
    # Set the model to training mode
    model.train()

    # Loop through the training data
    for X, y in train_dataloader:
        # Forward pass
        outputs = model(X)
        loss = criterion(outputs, y)

        # Backward pass and optimization
        optimizer.zero_grad()
        loss.backward()
        optimizer.step()

    # Set the model to evaluation mode
    model.eval()

    # Loop through the test data
    with torch.no_grad():
        correct = 0
        total = 0
        for X, y in test_dataloader:
            # Forward pass
            outputs = model(X)
            _, predicted = torch.max(outputs.data, 1)
            total += y.size(0)
            correct += (predicted == y).sum().item()

        # Calculate the accuracy
        accuracy = 100 * correct / total

        # Print the loss and accuracy
        print(f'Epoch {epoch+1}: Loss = {loss.item():.4f}, Accuracy = {accuracy:.2

This code demonstrates how to train a U-Net model for image segmentation using PyTorch. The U-Net architecture is a popular choice for image segmentation tasks, as it is able to handle complex images with multiple objects and fine details.

First, the model is defined as a subclass of nn.Module. It consists of a series of convolutional layers, ReLU activation functions, max pooling layers, and transposed convolutional layers that form the encoder and decoder parts of the U-Net architecture. The forward method defines the forward pass of the model, which takes an input image and produces a segmentation map as output.

Next, the device (CPU or GPU) is chosen based on availability. The training and test data are then loaded and converted to tensors, which are the data type used by PyTorch. The model is then initialized and moved to the specified device.

The loss function (cross-entropy loss) and the optimizer (stochastic gradient descent) are defined next. The training and test data are then wrapped in PyTorch DataLoader objects, which provide a convenient way to iterate over the data in batches.

Finally, the model is trained using a loop over the number of epochs. In each epoch, the model is first set to training mode using the model.train() method. The training data is then looped over in batches, and the forward and backward passes are performed to update the model parameters. At the end of each epoch, the model is set to evaluation mode using the model.eval() method and the accuracy on the test data.

Did you find this article valuable?

Support Pranith Pashikanti by becoming a sponsor. Any amount is appreciated!