A versatile parallel computer architecture for machine vision. Application to the comparison of real images and CAD-based representations

In order to achieve application dependent "real-time" performance, it is necessary with the technology available today, to use heavily parallelism for image processing and some higher level treatments. In this paper, we present concepts related to the design of parallel computer architectures for use in such real- time vision applications and based on combinations of heterogeneous processing structures. The corresponding realizations will be described and the use of such systems illustrated by a representative application, e. g. the on-line inspection of manufactured parts.