GPU Optimized Stereo Image Matching Technique for Computer Vision Applications

In this paper, we propose a graphics processing unit (GPU) based matching technique to perform fast feature matching between different images. Lowe proposed a scale invariant feature transform algorithm that has been successfully used in various feature matching applications such as stereo vision, object recognition, and many others, but this algorithm is computationally intensive. In order to solve this problem, we propose a matching technique optimized for graphics processing units to perform computation with less time. We have applied GPU optimization for the fast computation of keypoints to make our system fast and efficient. The proposed method used self-organizing map feature matching technique to perform efficient matching between different images. The experiments are performed on various images to examine the performance of the system in diverse conditions such as image rotation, scaling, and blurring conditions. The experimental results reveal that the proposed algorithm outperforms the existing feature matching methods resulting into fast feature matching with the optimization of graphics processing unit. Index Terms—Feature matching, stereo vision, self- organizing map, graphics processing unit