%T A transputer based active vision system %A Andrew B. Smith, Peter H. Welch %E Alastair R. Allen %B Proceedings of WoTUG\-15: Transputer Systems \- ongoing Research %X The visual detection and tracking of moving targets is computationally intensive and any but the most simple tasks are beyond the ability of single processor architectures. Many algorithms that are parallel in nature have been suggested for the recognition and tracking of moving targets. Implementing these algorithms on parallel computer systems requires the transcription of a massively parallel architecture onto a system with fewer physical processors. This, of course, is a much easier transformation than the reverse process: distributing a serial algorithm effectively over multiple processing elements.This paper describes a parallel Transputer implementation of a vision tracking system. The system is able to track a designated target by the physical movement of the camera. The camera is mounted on a pan and tilt unit and its movement and lens are under full control of the system. The system is modular in nature having been designed in three stages: i) the pre\-processing of the image and extraction of edge information, ii) the control of the focus and gain of the lens, and iii) the detection and tracking of moving targets. The system operates in real\-time (i.e. 25 frames/second).