Marker detection using SURF Algorithm for Feature Detection in Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality is a new computer technology that combines virtual computer generated 3D graphics with realistic environments in natural visual perception. Augmented reality is a technology which allows 2D and 3D computer graphics to be accurately aligned or registered with scenes of the real-world in real-time. The occlusions usually cause a disappearance of the 3D model. Such behavior has substantial negative impact on the application usability. In this article we present a hybrid marker detection approach. With this approach, markers are detected using the well-known SURF method. This method is able to recognize complex natural objects and deal with partial occlusions. Further, we overcome the problem of distinguishing similar markers by using the Golay error correction code patterns. The described approach represents a robust method that is able to identify even significantly occluded Markers, differentiate similar markers, and it works in a constant time regardless of the amount of used markers.