Controlling image processing: providing extensible, run-time configurable functionality on autonomous robots

The dynamic nature of autonomous robots´ tasks requires that their image processing operations are tightly coupled to those actions within their control systems which require the visual information. While there are many image processing libraries that provide the raw image processing functionality required for autonomous robot applications, these libraries do not provide the additional functionality necessary for transparently binding image processing operations within a robot´s control system. In particular such libraries lack facilities for process scheduling, sequencing, concurrent execution and resource management. The paper describes the design and implementation of an enabling extensible system-RECIPE-for providing image processing functionality in a form that is convenient for robot control together with concrete implementation examples