Electronics Engineering Project: Sobel Edge Detection with FPGA

This project report details the design and implementation of a Sobel edge detection algorithm using a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Conducted at Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy University (SASTRA) in Tanjore, the project utilizes VHDL for hardware description, X...Read More

CE 3.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Sobel Edge Detection Using FPGA
Location of the project: Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy
University (Electronics Engineering), Tanjore
Project Duration: From July of 2013 to December of 2013
Organization: Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy University
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member of the project
CE 3.2 Project Background
CE 3.2.1 Characteristics of the project
The project of Sobel Edge Detection Using FPGA was my final project in engineering
career. The designing of a Sobel edge detection algorithm for finding the edge pixels in Gray
scale image is presented. The software platforms of Xilinx ISE Design suite are utilized for
designing a specific algorithm by utilizing the language of VHDL. The software platform of
MATLAB is utilized to obtain the pixel data matrix from the Gray scale image and also vice
versa. The procedure for the identification of all sharp alterations in the pixels values in respect
to the surrounding pixels values is known as edge detection. Detection of Sobel edge is the
method that is in first order derivative as it has been computed by utilizing the digital gradient of
an image.

CE 3.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
The project of Sobel Edge Detection Using FPGA comprised of a variety of objectives.
My main objectives for this project are as follows:
 To design a sobel edge detection by utilizing field programmable gate array
 To search edge pixels in Gray scale image.
CE 3.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 3.2.4 My responsibilities throughout the project
My main responsibility was to choose the project topic. I opted for the project of Sobel
Edge Detection Using FPGA as I felt that this project would be perfect for our engineering
career. I knew that this particular project would be extremely helpful in understanding the entire
concept of sobel edge detection. My next responsibility was to make the report of the project. I

pro actively made the report and it had all the details of a project. As the project was completely
based on the detection of sobel edge, I gave exceptional attention to the entire documentation
part. Not all the materials of the particular project were available with ease for the secluded
location of my college. It was therefore my job to put together all the project materials. My final
responsibility was to assist my team leader in this particular project. I made sure that I could
assist him perfectly.
CE 3.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 3.3.1 Comprehending the Theory of the project
The project of Sobel Edge Detection by Using FPGA was perfectly developed for
providing practical solutions to problems. We proposed the edge detection algorithm for the
detection of the edges of the Gray scale medical images that are eventually based on the
information theory. For the edge of the medical images, the detection algorithm like Sobel is
utilized. The Field Programmable Gate arrays have huge amount of internal memory banks that
could be easily enabled in parallel for executing the functionalities in some of the clock cycles
while the chronological functioning processor needed numerous clock cycles in consumption of
low power; therefore, the Field Programmable Gate Arrays are extremely power efficient. The
utilization of the Field Programmable Gate Arrays in the systems of image processing allows
rapid prototyping and also reduces the time to the market cost. The hardware requirements of this
particular project mainly include the OmniVision 7670 Camera Chip, the Field Programmable
Gate Arrays and the UART. The software requirements of this project mainly include Xilinx ISE
Design suite and MATLAB.

i) OmniVision 7670 Camera Chip: The OV7670 camera chip is a low voltage
complementary metal oxide semiconductor image sensor, which helps in providing the complete
functionalities of a single chip Video Graphics Array camera and the image processor. The
OV7670 gives a full frame, sub sampled or the images of windowed 8 bits in a broad format
range that is managed by the serial camera control bus interface.
ii) Field Programmable Gate Arrays: The Field programmable gate arrays are such
devices that are prefabricated with silicon and which could be programmed electrically for
becoming almost all types of digital systems or circuits. These FPGAs are always designed after
the fabrication and further they can be redesigned.
iii) UART: The Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter or UART completed its
job of conversions from serial to parallel on the received data from any particular peripheral
device and the conversion of parallel to serial on the received data from the processor. The
Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter involves a specific programmable baud generator
that has the capability of subdividing the input clock of UART with the help of divisors from 1 to
65535. This division produces a 16× reference clock or a 13×reference clock for the internal
receiver and transmitter logic.
iv) Xilinx ISE Design suite: Xilinx ISE or Integrated Synthesis Environment is a typical
software technique that is produced by the Xilinx organization for synthesizing and analyzing the
designs of HDL. This is one of the software requirements of the project.
v) MATLAB: The full form of MATLAB is matrix laboratory. MATLAB is an extremely
high performance language for all types of technical computing.

The most significant stage in the recognition of vehicle type is the edge detection. Hence,
the operator of Sobel would be a perfect fit for the recognition of vehicle type. The four major
equipments for the recognition of vehicle type system are Pre-processing, Sobel Edge Detection,
feature extraction, and recognition. The motive of this edge tracing algorithm is to obtain the
vectors of the region edge of the objects in a particular image, and also a queue could be utilized
for saving the vectors of the region edges.
CE 3.3.2 Engineering Knowledge and Skills applied in the project
This particular project required intense knowledge of electronics engineering for the
perfect completion. I had used my knowledge of electronics engineering for the perfect project
completion. I did not have clear idea regarding this project; however, after proper training all of
my doubts were absolutely clarified. My team members and team leader were responsible for the
completion of the project. My knowledge of electronics engineering has helped me to execute
my responsibilities in the project perfectly.
CE 3.3.3 Accomplishment and task performed
This project of Sobel Edge Detection by Using FPGA was accomplished perfectly. The
most significant tool for image processing is the edge detection that was utilized for extracting
information from that particular image. The OV7670 camera chip was utilized in capturing the
image that was of real time and also was linked to the Field Programmable Gate Arrays. This
FPGA can decrease the execution time by simply employing the technique of parallelism. The
accumulated program of VHDL in the Field Programmable Gate Arrays was executed and also
simulated by utilizing the Xilinx ISE design suite. FPGA was linked to the system with the help
of UART.

Figure 2: Sobel edge detection by using FPFA model
CE 3.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
CE 3.3.4.1 Issues
The most important problem or issue that the project of Sobel Edge Detection by using
FPGA faced was the issue in raw materials collection. My college is situated in an extremely
secluded part in India. The position produced the most important issue in the procurement of all
of the raw materials as the completion of this project was always being delayed. Furthermore, the
complete funding of this project was tremendously huge and we even had to surpass several
complications in resolving these problems.
CE 3.3.4.2 Solution

I had used my brilliant power of critical thinking and intellect for resolving all the
problems smoothly. The main problem that we faced was while collecting all the raw materials.
called few of my contacts and was finally successful I collecting all the materials for the project.
CE 3.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
Our plan was to complete the project of sobel edge detection utilizing FPGA perfectly.
The plan was to produce creative and innovate work by working together with my fellow team
members and team leader.
CE 3.4 Project review
CE 3.4.1 Project overview
This project of Sobel Edge Detection by Using FPGA was completed successfully. The
Edge detection by utilizing the Sobel Operator was reviewed and the main focus was given on
the detection of the edges of all the digital images. The processor of the Sobel operator was
coded with the help of VHDL language. All the output files were observed in MATLAB
software. As the operator of Sobel edge detection was extremely insensible to the noise, this
particular methodology decreases the overall complexities of the look and also the processing
time. The execution time for the completed program of the edge detection for a picture of size
256×256 was only few seconds. The architecture that was based on the Field Programmable Gate
Arrays was much better than processing images on software platform utilizing the languages of
high level programming such as C or C++.