VisLab
Encyclopedia
The Artificial Vision and Intelligent Systems Laboratory of the University of Parma
(also known as Parma VisLab or VisLab) is the artificial vision research laboratory of University of Parma
, Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione.
It started its activities in 1990, with the involvement of the researchers within the
Eureka PROMETHEUS
Project. Since then the research group is focused on vehicular applications.
VisLab is regarded as one of the leading centers for artificial vision applied to vehicles.
VisLab, directed by Alberto Broggi
, undertakes research in basic and applied computer vision
; the most
important field of research is the perception of the surrounding environment in vehicular applications using cameras and fusion with other sensors. Its researchers contribute to fields such as artificial vision, image processing
, machine learning
, neural networks
, robotics
, and sensor fusion
.
The number of researchers at VisLab increased dramatically in the last few years reaching 20 individuals, thanks to many projects with automotive industries and suppliers.
In 2009 the VisLab researchers started a spinoff company, named VisLab srl, to commercialise the results of their main researches. The University of Parma
owns a share of 5%.
Project.
In the early years, the research group formed by Alberto Broggi
, Massimo Bertozzi and Alessandra Fascioli designed, realized, and successfully tested ARGO.
ARGO was a passenger car able to perceive the environment through the use of microcameras, analyze the surroundings, plan a trajectory, and drive itself on normal roads.
It was tested in 1998 with a 2000+ km tour in Italy, dubbed MilleMiglia in Automatico. In this test the vehicle drove for more than 94% in automatic mode. It was the first test in the world to use off-the-shelf and low cost technology (a Pentiun 200 MHz PC and two low-cost video-phone cameras) in normal conditions of traffic, environment, and weather.
Together with Carnegie Mellon's No Hands Across America and Universität der Bundeswehr's test from Munich to Odense, the MilleMiglia in Automatico is regarded as one of the milestones in vehicular robotics.
In 2005 a vehicle called TerraMax
was able to successfully conclude the DARPA Grand Challenge
; VisLab's vision system was its primary means of perception.
Despite the large vehicle size, the vehicle was able to negotiate different terrains and detect obstacles thanks to an innovative solution based on a trinocular system that was developed by VisLab.
In 2007 a new version of TerraMax
successfully qualified for the DARPA Urban Challenge, which was not completed due to a fault.
In 2010 VisLab launched VIAC
, the VisLab Intercontinental Autonomous Challenge, a 13,000 km test run for autonomous vehicles, from Italy to China.
main campus, south of Parma
, Italy.
University of Parma
The University of Parma is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in the 11th century. It is organised in twelve faculties. The University of Parma has currently about 30,000 students.-History:...
(also known as Parma VisLab or VisLab) is the artificial vision research laboratory of University of Parma
University of Parma
The University of Parma is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in the 11th century. It is organised in twelve faculties. The University of Parma has currently about 30,000 students.-History:...
, Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione.
It started its activities in 1990, with the involvement of the researchers within the
Eureka PROMETHEUS
Prometheus
In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan, the son of Iapetus and Themis, and brother to Atlas, Epimetheus and Menoetius. He was a champion of mankind, known for his wily intelligence, who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals...
Project. Since then the research group is focused on vehicular applications.
VisLab is regarded as one of the leading centers for artificial vision applied to vehicles.
VisLab, directed by Alberto Broggi
Alberto Broggi
Alberto Broggi is a professor of Computer Engineeringat the University of Parmain Italy, and a pioneer of machine vision applied todriverless cars and unmanned vehicles in general.- Biography :Alberto Broggi was born in Parma, Italy, in 1966...
, undertakes research in basic and applied computer vision
Computer vision
Computer vision is a field that includes methods for acquiring, processing, analysing, and understanding images and, in general, high-dimensional data from the real world in order to produce numerical or symbolic information, e.g., in the forms of decisions...
; the most
important field of research is the perception of the surrounding environment in vehicular applications using cameras and fusion with other sensors. Its researchers contribute to fields such as artificial vision, image processing
Image processing
In electrical engineering and computer science, image processing is any form of signal processing for which the input is an image, such as a photograph or video frame; the output of image processing may be either an image or, a set of characteristics or parameters related to the image...
, machine learning
Machine learning
Machine learning, a branch of artificial intelligence, is a scientific discipline concerned with the design and development of algorithms that allow computers to evolve behaviors based on empirical data, such as from sensor data or databases...
, neural networks
Neural Networks
Neural Networks is the official journal of the three oldest societies dedicated to research in neural networks: International Neural Network Society, European Neural Network Society and Japanese Neural Network Society, published by Elsevier...
, robotics
Robotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
, and sensor fusion
Sensor fusion
Sensor fusion is the combining of sensory data or data derived from sensory data from disparate sources such that the resulting information is in some sense better than would be possible when these sources were used individually...
.
The number of researchers at VisLab increased dramatically in the last few years reaching 20 individuals, thanks to many projects with automotive industries and suppliers.
In 2009 the VisLab researchers started a spinoff company, named VisLab srl, to commercialise the results of their main researches. The University of Parma
University of Parma
The University of Parma is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in the 11th century. It is organised in twelve faculties. The University of Parma has currently about 30,000 students.-History:...
owns a share of 5%.
Milestones
VisLab's results are regarded as milestones in the vehicular robotics history. Among them, the ARGO Project and the TerraMaxTerraMax (vehicle)
TerraMax is an autonomous tactical cargo hauler fielded by Oshkosh Truck Corporation, University of Parma's Artificial Vision and Intelligent Systems Laboratory and Rockwell Collins, also known under the name of Big Truck Robotics, that participated in both the 2004 and 2005 DARPA Grand...
Project.
In the early years, the research group formed by Alberto Broggi
Alberto Broggi
Alberto Broggi is a professor of Computer Engineeringat the University of Parmain Italy, and a pioneer of machine vision applied todriverless cars and unmanned vehicles in general.- Biography :Alberto Broggi was born in Parma, Italy, in 1966...
, Massimo Bertozzi and Alessandra Fascioli designed, realized, and successfully tested ARGO.
ARGO was a passenger car able to perceive the environment through the use of microcameras, analyze the surroundings, plan a trajectory, and drive itself on normal roads.
It was tested in 1998 with a 2000+ km tour in Italy, dubbed MilleMiglia in Automatico. In this test the vehicle drove for more than 94% in automatic mode. It was the first test in the world to use off-the-shelf and low cost technology (a Pentiun 200 MHz PC and two low-cost video-phone cameras) in normal conditions of traffic, environment, and weather.
Together with Carnegie Mellon's No Hands Across America and Universität der Bundeswehr's test from Munich to Odense, the MilleMiglia in Automatico is regarded as one of the milestones in vehicular robotics.
In 2005 a vehicle called TerraMax
TerraMax (vehicle)
TerraMax is an autonomous tactical cargo hauler fielded by Oshkosh Truck Corporation, University of Parma's Artificial Vision and Intelligent Systems Laboratory and Rockwell Collins, also known under the name of Big Truck Robotics, that participated in both the 2004 and 2005 DARPA Grand...
was able to successfully conclude the DARPA Grand Challenge
DARPA Grand Challenge
The DARPA Grand Challenge is a prize competition for driverless vehicles, funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the most prominent research organization of the United States Department of Defense...
; VisLab's vision system was its primary means of perception.
Despite the large vehicle size, the vehicle was able to negotiate different terrains and detect obstacles thanks to an innovative solution based on a trinocular system that was developed by VisLab.
In 2007 a new version of TerraMax
TerraMax (vehicle)
TerraMax is an autonomous tactical cargo hauler fielded by Oshkosh Truck Corporation, University of Parma's Artificial Vision and Intelligent Systems Laboratory and Rockwell Collins, also known under the name of Big Truck Robotics, that participated in both the 2004 and 2005 DARPA Grand...
successfully qualified for the DARPA Urban Challenge, which was not completed due to a fault.
In 2010 VisLab launched VIAC
VIAC
VIAC, the VisLab Intercontinental Autonomous Challenge, is the challenge conceived by VisLabas an extremetest ofautonomous vehicles.It ran from July 26, 2010 to October 28, 2010, involving four driverless vehicles driving with...
, the VisLab Intercontinental Autonomous Challenge, a 13,000 km test run for autonomous vehicles, from Italy to China.
Location
VisLab is located in the University of ParmaUniversity of Parma
The University of Parma is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in the 11th century. It is organised in twelve faculties. The University of Parma has currently about 30,000 students.-History:...
main campus, south of Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
, Italy.