An FPGA Correlation-Edge Distance approach for disparity map

This paper describes an FPGA Correlation-Edge Distance approach for real time disparity map generation in stereo-vision. The proposed method calculates the disparity map for the input and disparity map for Edge Distance images of a stereopair. In both cases the approximation algorithm of disparity map SAD (Sum of Absolute Differences) is used. The final disparity map is determined from the previously generated maps, considering a homogeneity parameter defined for each point in the scene. Due to low complexity when implementing stereo-vision algorithms in FPGA devices, the proposed method was implemented in a Cyclone II EP2C35F672C6 FPGA assembled in an Altera DE2 breadboard. The developed module can process stereo-pairs of 1280×1024 pixel resolution at a rate of 75 frames/s and produces 8-bit dense disparity maps within a range of disparities up to 63 pixels. The presented architecture provides a significant improvement in regions with uniformed texture over correlation based stereo-vision algorithms in the reported literature and an accelerated processing rate.