FalCon GmbH - MovBag - Analysis of Airbag Image Sequences

Main features:

The analysis program FalCon eXtra MovBag extracts outlines and& corresponding measurement values from airbag test scenes:

Automatic measurement of time-variant contour graphs.
Display in the image overlay and diagram
Evaluation of specific measurement values:
maximum expansion, area, center of gravity (output and display accordingly to analysis system eXtra MovXact)
Measurement of discrete points, markers or areas/patches
Calibration of results with free selection of the coordinate system
Export into Multi-D format, DIAdem etc.

The analysis program eXtra MovBag offers automatic measurements of airbag outlines as contour graphs = f(t). The available image processing tools are designed principally for blow-ups in a test environment; measurement methods detect differences regarding brightness and color saturation (absolute and relative to a reference image). All thresholds and parameters are adjustable.

A mainly automatic measurement requires the following boundary conditions:

The airbag surface is illuminated appropriately and is "bright" (in relation to the near environment).
A white balance according to the color of the bag, e.g. silver, ensures a "non-colored" appearance of the airbag, i.e. the color saturation is low.
The background of the scene should show a pattern helping to separate the airbag surface. Thus a (relatively) "dark" and "colored“ (as possible homogeneous) curtain is recommendable. Measuring within a monochrome image sequence (KODAK 4540), the brightness gradient between background and airbag should be considerable.
Bright or even white bzw. labels, bars etc. in the region of interest should be avoided. Nevertheless the user may select a detection area to mask-off non-relevant regions in the scene, e.g. visible spotlights.
In version 1.0 the image background is assumed to be static. To measure within dynamic tests (= moving sleds) the module will be extended: trajectories (as a result of eXtra MovXact) allow a reference to a "running" background.

Components

The outlines are displayed in the image overlay: options are e.g. color, filling, background mask, coordinate system with axes and grid.
An overview sketch with legends helps to log the temporal course of the expansion: options are sequence interval, increment and background mask.
Calibrated graphs can be displayed as x-y diagrams or exported into table or standard files (DIAdem).
A new Multi-D data format enables a visualization as temporal sequence of 2D diagrams. Several of these diagram sequences can be displayed synchronized to AVIs, thus a comparison of different tests is possible. Of course the modules eXtra QuickView and CustomerViewer support this data format too.
Specific measurement values are extracted from the contour graphs: maximum expansion, area and center of gravity (extendable on demand). These measurement values are calibrated and post-processed according to the extensive features of the analysis system MovXact. Results are output numerically and as time diagrams.

Technical Framework:

Program system for computer platforms under WINDOWS 2000 / XP / 2003
User interface compliant to MS-Windows.
You can order MovBag as a stand-alone program or as extension to the analysis system MovXact
Technical specifications are subject to change.

FalCon eXtra MovBag