Algorithm allows cameras to see around corners

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Spotted: Researchers at Boston University have developed an algorithm that allows an ordinary digital camera to use reflected light to “see” around corners and obstacles. The algorithm uses light given off by a hidden object as it bounces off whatever is obstructing the view of that object. The algorithm first reconstructs the obstacle from its shadow, then reconstructs the hidden image behind that obstacle, using the patterns of the light. According to the researchers, the reconstruction will work even if the obstruction is a wall. The work is published in the January 2019 edition of Nature.

Takeaway: The team’s algorithm can be used without any special equipment. This could allow it to be used with existing consumer technology, such as smartphones, without the addition of expensive hardware. Electrical engineer Vivek Goyal, the study’s lead author, acknowledges that the algorithm “may have some creepy applications”, but also could be used for practical purposes. These could include monitoring hazardous environments, aiding in navigation, or spotting hazards before they pose a threat.

Website: www.bu.edu/eng
Contact: [email protected]

Published in: 2019

Source: New feed 1