The optical flow has been one of the common approaches for image tracking. Its advantage is that no prior knowledge for image features is required. Since movement information can be obtained based on brightness data only, this method is suitable for tracking tasks of unknown objects. Besides, insects are always masters in chasing and catching preys in the natural world due to their unique compound eye structure. If the edge of the compound eye can be applied to tracking of moving objects, it is highly expected that the tracking performance will be greatly improved. Conventional images are built on a Cartesian reference system, which is quite different from the hexagonal framework for the compound eye of insects. This thesis explores the distinction of the hexagonal image framework by incorporating the hexagonal concept into the optical flow technology. Consequently, the reason behind why the compound eye is good at tracking moving objects can be revealed. According to simulation results for test images with different features, the hexagonal optical flow method appears to be superior to the traditional optical flow method in the Cartesian reference system.

The visual processing in the real world is different from the digital world. Monkey’s and a human’s visual world is richer and more colourful affording sight of flies, regardless of whether they are immobile or airborne. The study of the evolutionary process of our visual system indicates the existence of variationally spatial arrangement; from densely hexagonal in the fovea to a sparse circular structure in the peripheral retina. Normally we use a rectangular grid for the processing of images. But as per the perspective of the human eyes, the new approach is to change the grid from rectangular to hexagonal. Applying hexagonal grid in image processing is very advantageous and easy for mimicking human visual system. The main advantages for using the hexagonal structure in image processing is its resemblance to the arrangement of photoreceptors in the human eyes. The visual processing in the real world is different from the digital world. Monkey’s and a human’s visual world is richer and more colourful affording sight of flies, regardless of whether they are immobile or airborne. The study of the evolutionary process of our visual system indicates the existence of variationally spatial arrangement; from densely hexagonal in the fovea to a sparse circular structure in the peripheral retina. Normally we use a rectangular grid for the processing of images. But as per the perspective of the human eyes, the new approach is to change the grid from rectangular to hexagonal. Applying hexagonal grid in image processing is very advantageous and easy for mimicking human visual system. The main advantages for using the hexagonal structure in image processing is its resemblance to the arrangement of photoreceptors in the human eyes.