Enhanced Color QR Codes with Resilient Error Correction for Dirt-Prone Surfaces

Abstract

This study focuses on overcoming the limitations of traditional QR codes, specifically their vulnerability to damage and insufficient error correction capabilities. We introduce an innovative approach, the Enhanced Color QR (CQR) code, which strengthens the error correction ability of QR codes by employing red, green, and blue color channels. This pioneering technology removes critical zones, enabling damage tolerance anywhere on the code and allowing for up to 50% damage to the code area, considerably surpassing the performance of existing QR code systems. Importantly, our CQR code maintains backward compatibility, ensuring readability by current QR code scanners. This state-of-the-art improvement is especially useful in scenarios where conventional 2D barcodes face challenges, such as on non-flat or reflective surfaces frequently encountered on fruits, cans, bottles, and medical equipment like blood test sample tubes and syringes. Furthermore, our CQR code’s four corners and boundary can be estimated without requiring corner visibility, offering potential advantages for augmented reality applications. By addressing the key issues associated with traditional QR codes, our research presents a significant advancement in the field of computer vision and provides a more resilient and versatile solution for a wide range of real-world applications.