Experiences on developing computer vision hardware algorithms using Xilinx system generator

Computer vision is one of the areas where hardware-implemented algorithms perform clearly better than those implemented via software. Digital designers have so far optimized their designs by means of application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or digital signal processors (DSPs). However, nowadays they are increasingly using field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), powerful hardware devices combining the main advantages of ASICs and DSPs with the possibility of re-programming, which make them very attractive devices for rapid prototyping. This paper shows how the Xilinx system generator (XSG) environment can be used to develop hardware-based computer vision algorithms from a system level approach, which makes it suitable for developing co-design environments.