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Velocity Moments

Velocity Moments is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Velocity Moments rather than just read about it. In short: In the field of computer vision, velocity moments are weighted averages of the intensities of pixels in a sequence of images, similar to image moments but in addition to describing an object's shape also describe its motion through the sequence of images. Velocity moments can be used to aid automated identification of a shape in an image when information about the motion is significant in its description.

Key takeaways

  • Velocity Moments belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Velocity Moments to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Velocity Moments from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In the field of computer vision, velocity moments are weighted averages of the intensities of pixels in a sequence of images, similar to image moments but in addition to describing an object's shape also describe its motion through the sequence of images. Velocity moments can be used to aid automated identification of a shape in an image when information about the motion is significant in its description. There are currently two established versions of velocity moments: Cartesian and Zernike.

Cartesian velocity moments

Cartesian moments for single images A Cartesian moment of a single image is calculated by

m p q = ∑ x = 1 M ∑ y = 1 N x p y q P x y {\displaystyle m_{pq}=\sum _{x=1}^{M}\sum _{y=1}^{N}x^{p}y^{q}P_{xy}}

where M {\displaystyle M} and N {\displaystyle N} are the dimensions of the image, P x y {\displaystyle P_{xy}} is the intensity of the pixel at the point ( x , y ) {\displaystyle (x,y)} in the image, and x p y q {\displaystyle x^{p}y^{q}} is the basis function.

Cartesian velocity moments for sequences of images Cartesian velocity moments are based on these Cartesian moments. A Cartesian velocity moment v m p q μ γ {\displaystyle vm_{pq\mu \gamma }} is defined by

v m p q μ γ = ∑ i = 2 i m a g e s ∑ x = 1 M ∑ y = 1 N U ( i , μ , γ ) C ( i , p , g ) P i x y {\displaystyle vm_{pq\mu \gamma }=\sum _{i=2}^{images}\sum _{x=1}^{M}\sum _{y=1}^{N}U(i,\mu ,\gamma )C(i,p,g)P_{i_{xy}}}

where M {\displaystyle M} and N {\displaystyle N} are again the dimensions of the image, i m a g e s {\displaystyle images} is the number of images in the sequence, and P i x y {\displaystyle P_{i_{xy}}} is the intensity of the pixel at the point ( x , y ) {\displaystyle (x,y)} in image i {\displaystyle i} .

C ( i , p , q ) {\displaystyle C(i,p,q)} is taken from Central moments, added so the equation is translation invariant, defined as

C ( i , p , q ) = ( x − x i ¯ ) p ( y − y i ¯ ) q {\displaystyle C(i,p,q)=(x-{\overline {x_{i}}})^{p}(y-{\overline {y_{i}}})^{q}}

where x i ¯ {\displaystyle {\overline {x_{i}}}} is the x {\displaystyle x} coordinate of the centre of mass for image i {\displaystyle i} , and similarly for y {\displaystyle y} .

U ( i , μ , γ ) {\displaystyle U(i,\mu ,\gamma )} introduces velocity into the equation as

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Velocity Moments

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Velocity Moments claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Velocity Moments before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Velocity Moments ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Velocity Moments

In research
Velocity Moments appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Velocity Moments in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Velocity Moments is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Applications of computer vision, Motion in computer vision, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Velocity Moments outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Velocity Moments in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Velocity Moments means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Velocity Moments out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Velocity Moments in simple terms?

In the field of computer vision, velocity moments are weighted averages of the intensities of pixels in a sequence of images, similar to image moments but in addition to describing an object's shape also describe its motion through the sequence of images. Velocity moments can be used to aid automat…

Why does Velocity Moments matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Velocity Moments?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Velocity Moments.

Tags

  • Applications of computer vision
  • Motion in computer vision

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