SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING A DISCONTINUITY IN THE BOUNDARY OF AN OBJECT IN AN IMAGE

Machine vision is used to identify a discontinuity in the boundary of an object in an image. An image of one or more objects is captured. One or more skeletons of the one or more objects are calculated. One or more boundaries of the one or more objects are calculated. A plurality of radial lines is extended from a spine point of a skeleton to the one or more boundaries. Each radial line intersects a boundary at a radial endpoint producing a plurality of radial endpoints. For each radial endpoint an expected radial endpoint is calculated based on two or more neighboring radial endpoints. If the difference between the radial endpoint and its expected radial endpoint exceeds a threshold, a radial line including the radial endpoint is identified as a discontinuity in a boundary of an object.