Real-time face shape and position recognition by a two-D spreading associative neural network

The "two-D spreading associative neural network" (two-D SAN-net), which is constructed based on the spatial recognition system in the brain, not only recognizes the shape of an object irrespective of its position, but also recognizes its position irrespective of its shape in the input pattern. The original two-D SAN-net performed this recognition by off-line processing using still picture files. We extended the original system to a real-time recognition system, which performed the recognition by on-line processing using serial images from a video camera. We investigated and evaluated the recognition characteristics of the real-time two-D SAN-net system. In the recognition experiment of faces, the system recognized both shape and position with sufficient accuracy. Regarding the generalization ability, the real-time two-D SAN-net system recognized scale changes of 80% ∼ 120%, and view plane rotation of the faces of up to ±4 ∼ 5 degrees.