System and method for partially occluded object detection

A system for partially occluded object detection, comprising:

• an image input device receives an input image;
• an object detector determines a response map for a detection window of the input image, wherein the object detector determines the response map based on a trained model and the response map includes a root layer and a parts layer;
• a processor operatively connected for computer communication to the image input device and the object detector;
• a visibility flag module of the processor determines visibility flags for each root cell of the root layer and each part of the parts layer based on the response map, wherein the visibility flag is one of visible or occluded, the visibility flag module of the processor determines an occlusion penalty for each root cell with a visibility flag of occluded and for each part with a visibility flag of occluded, wherein the occlusion penalty is based on a location of the root cell or the part with respect to the detection window;
• and
• the object detector determines a detection score for the detection window based on the visibility flags and the occlusion penalties and generates an estimated visibility map for object detection based on the detection score.

A computer-implemented method for partially occluded object detection, comprising:

• obtaining a response map for a detection window of an input image, wherein the response map is based on a trained model and the response map includes a root layer and a parts layer;
• determining visibility flags for each root cell of the root layer and each part of the parts layer based on the response map, wherein the visibility flag is one of visible or occluded;
• determining a detection score for the detection window based on the visibility flags, wherein the detection score excludes root cells and parts with a visibility flag of occluded;
• and
• generating an estimated visibility map for object detection based the detection score.