Deep neural network for traffic sign recognition systems: An analysis of spatial transformers and stochastic optimisation methods

Neural Netw. 2018 Mar:99:158-165. doi: 10.1016/j.neunet.2018.01.005. Epub 2018 Jan 31.

Abstract

This paper presents a Deep Learning approach for traffic sign recognition systems. Several classification experiments are conducted over publicly available traffic sign datasets from Germany and Belgium using a Deep Neural Network which comprises Convolutional layers and Spatial Transformer Networks. Such trials are built to measure the impact of diverse factors with the end goal of designing a Convolutional Neural Network that can improve the state-of-the-art of traffic sign classification task. First, different adaptive and non-adaptive stochastic gradient descent optimisation algorithms such as SGD, SGD-Nesterov, RMSprop and Adam are evaluated. Subsequently, multiple combinations of Spatial Transformer Networks placed at distinct positions within the main neural network are analysed. The recognition rate of the proposed Convolutional Neural Network reports an accuracy of 99.71% in the German Traffic Sign Recognition Benchmark, outperforming previous state-of-the-art methods and also being more efficient in terms of memory requirements.

Keywords: Convolutional neural network; Deep learning; Spatial transformer network; Traffic sign.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Automobile Driving*
  • Benchmarking
  • Databases, Factual
  • Humans
  • Location Directories and Signs / classification*
  • Machine Learning* / trends
  • Neural Networks, Computer*
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual* / physiology
  • Stochastic Processes