* Images greatly reduce the time and effort required to register new products Instant object registration technology for image recognition: From NEC's state-of-the-art technology
* This article is reprinted from the data science media "Da-nce".
NEC announced on September 30 that it has developed "instant object registration technology for image recognition" that automates the correct answering work (annotation) for image recognition. Aiming for commercialization in 2022 for the retail and logistics industries.
"Instant object registration technology for image recognition" allows products to be registered in the image recognition model simply by holding the product in hand and moving it in front of the camera. With the spread of unmanned payment, shelf product management, shipping inspection, etc. by image recognition using a camera, product registration work to build an image recognition model by taking multiple images of each product in advance is indispensable.
However, it has been a heavy burden in the retail industry such as convenience stores and supermarkets where hundreds of products are replaced every month, and in the logistics industry where the goods to be managed are diverse at each site.
The technology (hereinafter referred to as "instant object registration") has two features that solve such problems.
1. Automates annotation work with AI
Instant object registration automates manual correct answering work with AI technology and automatically builds an image recognition model. By separating the moving foreground product from the non-moving background from the camera image, any complex background can be removed cleanly and only the image area of the product can be accurately cut out. In addition, it automatically removes images that are inappropriate as learning data such as image blurring caused by moving products and hiding by hand, and reduces the time and effort of data cleansing.
Until now, it took more than 30 minutes to annotate one product, but when you turn the product in front of the camera for 10 to 20 seconds, it automatically learns and incorporates it into the image recognition model, so no special skills or know-how is required. ..
2. One camera, product registration is possible at any location
Simply hold the product in your hand and rotate it in front of the camera for 10 to 20 seconds to automatically collect multiple images required for image recognition of the product as learning data. Until now, it was necessary to take hundreds of shots with dedicated shooting equipment such as rotary table shooting equipment. With instant object registration, you can take pictures with just one camera, so you can easily register products at retail and logistics sites.
Being able to shoot by turning it by hand also has the advantage of being able to shoot and register bag-shaped products such as potato chips in a form close to actual operation.
This technology was developed by a team researching small data learning techniques, and has been working on learning algorithms that realize highly accurate learning with a small amount of data. There are two approaches to reducing the cost of deep learning data creation: evolution of learning algorithms and efficiency of learning data creation, but the team focused on the latter. As a result of thinking that "there may be a technology to automate the data creation itself," he said that he came to the development of instant object registration.
＞＞ Significantly reduce the time and effort of new product registration Instant object registration technology for image recognition: NEC's cutting-edge technology | NEC
NEC says it will strengthen its development and aim to commercialize it in 2022.
＞＞ Press release
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