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The MathWorks today announced the latest version of its Video and Image Processing Blockset, which extends Simulink® to allow engineers to develop embedded video and imaging systems using Model-Based Design.  The Video and Image Processing Blockset 2 expands an extensive library of video and image processing blocks by adding new blocks and enhancing existing blocks for target tracking, region of interest (ROI) processing, blob analysis, optical flow, projective transformations, pyramiding, color conversion, and color processing.  These features enable engineers to design next generation video and imaging systems for the aerospace and defense, automotive, consumer electronics, medical imaging, and security markets.

The Video and Image Processing Blockset and Model-Based Design have already gained significant adoption by engineers developing innovative and intelligent video systems.  For example, aerospace and defense engineers use the Video and Image Processing Blockset to design intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission systems used in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).  For engineers developing consumer electronics components, the Video and Image Processing Blockset provides significant functionality for imaging pipelines in digital cameras, video camcorders, and advanced digital video broadcast systems for satellite and wireless transmission.  The tool is also used by engineers who develop medical imaging systems such as MRI, ultrasound, CT-scan, and endoscope.

For the automotive industry, the Video and Image Processing Blockset 2 provides a new blob analysis block, as well as target tracking and Hough transform features that enable engineers to develop active safety systems.  With the ability to identify and detect objects and their characteristics, automotive engineers can develop next-generation cameras and video-based systems such as lane departure warning, blind spot lane detection, and “smart” airbag deployment. 

Security and surveillance industries have seen increased demand for smart cameras and networks that can identify suspicious behavior such as abandonment of objects in public areas.  With the Video and Image Processing Blockset 2, engineers can develop intelligent video systems for real-time preventive analysis rather than traditional post-event forensic study for various border, building, and facility security systems

“Video and image processing engineers are often on the cutting edge when developing next-generation systems, and they need tools that will accelerate the implementation of their designs,” said Ken Karnofsky, director of marketing, DSP and communications, The MathWorks.  “The new algorithm, visualization, and data handling features in the Video and Image Processing Blockset 2 support the full workflow for the development of embedded video or image processing systems.  Now engineers have more freedom to view and debug errors faster, create sophisticated algorithms, and model and simulate systems before implementation.

Using the Video and Image Processing Blockset 2 in Model-Based Design allows engineers to model and simulate video or image processing system/component design in a software environment before hardware implementation.  Additionally, the Video and Image Processing Blockset 2 allows users to rapidly iterate design trade-offs and utilize tools for migrating designs from floating-point to fixed-point data types.  Model-Based Design also offers advanced capabilities for algorithm development, visualization and pre- and post-analysis, as well as automatic C-code generation from Simulink models for deployment on DSPs and embedded microprocessors.