Design of Experiments for Performance Evaluation and Parameter Tuning of a Road Image Processing Chain

Tuning a complete image processing chain (IPC) is not a straightforward task. The first problem to overcome is the evaluation of the whole process. Until now researchers have focused on the evaluation of single algorithms based on a small number of test images and ad hoc tuning independent of input data. In this paper, we explain how the design of experiments applied on a large image database enables statistical modeling for IPC significant parameter identification. The second problem is then considered: how can we find the relevant tuning and continuously adapt image processing to input data? After the tuning of the IPC on a typical subset of the image database using numerical optimization, we develop an adaptive IPC based on a neural network working on input image descriptors. By testing this approach on an IPC dedicated-to-road obstacle detection, we demonstrate that this experimental methodology and software architecture can ensure continuous efficiency. The reason is simple: the IPC is globally optimized, from a large number of real images and with adaptive processing of input data.