A simple and efficient template matching algorithm

We propose a general framework for object tracking in video images. It consists of low-order parametric models for the image motion of a target region. These models are used to predict the movement and to track the target. The difference of intensity between the pixels belonging to the current region and the pixels of the selected target (learnt during an off-line stage) allows a straightforward prediction of the region position in the current image. The proposed algorithm allows to track in real time (less than 10 ms) any planar textured target under homographic motions. This algorithm is very simple (a few lines of code) and very efficient (less than 10 ms on a 150 MHz hardware).