A FPGA‐based experimentation system for designing, implementing, and evaluating real‐time video processing and analysis algorithms at undergraduate level

Abstract

Real‐time digital video processing is an important area for students on computer and electronic engineering courses who have to learn how to design efficient applications required for industry, such as autonomous navigation, automatic detection and recognition of objects, autonomous process supervision, etc. Nevertheless, the computational complexity and large amount of data access within real‐time video processing have resulted in the need for alternative learning environments that facilitate this task. This paper aims to introduce a FPGA‐based system into traditional classrooms to promote experimentation when designing, implementing, and evaluating real‐time video processing and analysis algorithms at undergraduate level. With the aim of evaluating the system proposed in this paper, fourth‐year Computer and Electronic Engineering students performed various real‐time video processing and analysis experiments to effectively design robust algorithms. A qualitative research method identified positive student perceptions that might lead to improved technical skills.