According to restrictions existing in the application of single license plate location algorithm in complicated background. A license plate location algorithm based on mathematical morphology and color characteristics is proposed. Firstly, the new method uses Ostu algorithm to select an optimal threshold, and according to the threshold carries on binary processing, then by using a new method of mathematical morphology for image edge detection. Finally combined mathematical morphology with color characteristic to locate license plate .Experiments show that this new method with higher accuracy and fewer restrictions on background is superior to traditional or a single method and can be widely used.
