Cotton Image Segmentation Algorithm Based on Fusion Method of Markov Random Field and Quantum Particle Swarm Cluster

Objective] The aim of this study was to improve the cotton image segmentation accuracy in a picking robot image processing system. Method] An image segmentation algorithm based on a fusion method of Markov random field and quantum particle swarm optimization clustering was proposed. The process of the proposed algorithm is as follows: first, transform the RGB (red, green, blue) images into grayscale; second, use it to segment these images; finally, the threshold of the connected area is set on the basis of the segmented image to obtain the target area. Then, the cotton front image and the cotton side image are selected from the images collected from different angles. The segmentation experiment was carried out by using this algorithm, and compared with the Otsu algorithm, the fuzzy C-means algorithm, the quantum particle swarm image segmentation algorithm and the Markov random field image segmentation algorithm. Result] The results showed that the segmentation accuracy and peak signal to noise ratio of the proposed algorithm were 98.94% and 77.48 dB. When compared with the Otsu algorithm, fuzzy C-means algorithm, quantum particle swarm optimization algorithm and Markov random field algorithm, the average segmentation accuracy and peak signal to noise ratio of the proposed algorithm increased by 2.47%–4.56%, and 9.81–13.11 dB, respectively. Conclusion] The proposed algorithm had higher segmentation accuracy and higher peak signal to noise ratio than the other algorithms tested.