Abstract
In this post I will present an algorithm for searching edges in images by using genetic approach.
Algorithm
The image is preprocessed before its usage, firstly Gaussian blur is used to remove small artifacts that could pollute the result. I could be also done by using image downsizing and upsizing as I presented in the post about breaking captcha. Secondly the image is converted to black and white version to simplify the implementation.
Original image:
Edges found by using a genetic algorithm (100 generations):
In presented version each children has only one parent, so gene change is provided only by mutation. Each specimen has two genes: X and Y that describes a location on the image. If a specimen has a good set of genes (they point to a location near the edge), then he's healthy and strong so he can breed, but if his genes are weak, then he's weak too and soon he dies. The edge is defined by a fitness function as a point that has neighbor points with different color.
Strong species breed so after couple of generations theirs children will cover the whole edge. The final result is a set of genes (each is a point on the image) in the last generation.