A method of tracing disordered cords

The present paper describes a technique for analyzing a disordered cord. We often put disordered cords in order or undo knots out of necessity. To automate this routine by an intelligent machine, a cord needs to be traced from one end to the other. This paper proposes a technique for realizing the trace employing consistent labeling and a distance index. Image processing of a disordered cord provides the description of the cord by its subareas called cord areas. Relations among the cord areas are formulated in terms of consistent labeling. Solutions of the consistent labeling problem give candidates for possible trace routes and a unique route is found by the calculation of a distance index. Experimental results show satisfactory performance of the proposed technique.