Based on my own experience and on queries to ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini, here’s some information about the five different Algorithm options in the Motion Tracker filter.
KFC: Kernelized Correlation Filters:
This algorithm uses correlation filters to track objects efficiently. It’s known for its speed and accuracy, making it a solid choice for tracking objects with moderate movement and relatively consistent appearance. One weakness is that it can lose track if the object changes appearance significantly (e.g., scale, rotation, occlusion).
Best For: High-speed tracking of rigid, consistently shaped objects.
Analysis Speed: Fast
MIL: Multiple Instance Learning:
MIL creates multiple positive samples of the object being tracked, which helps it recover from occlusions (when the object is temporarily hidden). However, it can sometimes drift if the object changes appearance significantly.
Best For: Slow, somewhat consistent motion with occasional partial obstructions.
Analysis Speed: Moderate
MEDIANFLOW: Lucas-Kanade Median Flow:
This method tracks objects by estimating their movement using optical flow. It works best when the object moves smoothly and predictably, but struggles with fast or erratic motion and is not good with occlusions.
Best For: Ideal when you want high confidence in slow, steady motion tracking.
Analysis Speed: Slow
MOSSE: Minimum Output Sum of Squared Error:
MOSSE is a lightweight and fast tracker that performs surprisingly well in low-resolution or low-light scenarios. It’s great for tracking objects with consistent appearance, but it can struggle with scale changes.
Best For: Simple, fast tracking in low-resource or real-time scenarios.
Analysis Speed: Very fast
CSRT: Channel and Spatial Reliability Tracking:
CSRT is one of the most accurate trackers, as it considers both color and spatial reliability. It’s slower compared to the others, but it’s excellent for tracking objects with complex motion and appearance changes. It also deals well with occlusions.
Best For: When accuracy matters most and speed is less of a concern.
Analysis Speed: Slowest