Discrimination of planar shapes using shape matrices

An algorithm is presented for describing and discriminating binary images of planar shapes. The descriptor is a matrix that the dimensions dependent on the maximum radius of the shape. The descriptor is obtained by a polar quantization of the shape and is independent of the shape's position, orientation, and size. The descriptors discriminate two or more shapes by measuring their degree of similarity. The shapes considered include letters of the alphabet, numerals, geometrical figures, and physical objects. The results obtained for the letters were compared to those reported by A. Goshtasby (1985). The comparison showed that the proposed algorithm provides a higher degree of discrimination.>