Optical Flow
Definition
Optical flow estimates the visible movement between consecutive images.
An estimated vector field of the apparent motion of image points between consecutive frames.
Simply explained
When comparing two video images, it estimates where individual image points have moved.
Why it matters in practice
Helps realistically assess model quality, limits, and technical decisions.
Example from business
A video analysis estimates direction and speed of objects’ movement between frames.
Limits and pitfalls
- Equating optical flow with actual 3D motion or ignoring illumination and occlusion assumptions.
Origin & history
Horn and Schunck formulated a seminal variational approach in 1981; today, neural methods are also used.
Use in mid-sized companies
- Possible application: A video analysis estimates the direction and speed of objects' movement between frames.
Frequently asked questions
What does Optical Flow mean?
An estimated vector field of the apparent motion of image points between consecutive frames.
Which mistakes should be avoided?
Equating optical flow with actual 3D motion or ignoring illumination and occlusion assumptions.
Sources
Source verified on 10.10.2026. Editorial application examples are hypothetical; no evidence of real customer results.
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