Abstract: A good feature extraction method helps to improve the efficiency of pattern recognition system and classificalion system. Computing of potential energy of an image can be used to extract and save image features, which is a new theory to collect and store the potential energy of each pixel in order. In this way, the feature of the image is better retamed contributing to storage and classification. Contour is the main distinction between different objects. With potential energy theory, the potential energy computed can better show the image feature with the high advantage of speed, easy computing and less storage space. hhe theory can be applied to target recognition and target classification and so on.

Key words: Image processing, Contour, Potential energy, Feature extraction, harget recognition