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Solve Sudoku with Computer Vision and Constraint Satisfaction Algorithm

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This article explains a program in python 2.7 to solve a Sudoku 9×9 of the Android application “Sudoku” of genina.com. To solve a sudoku of the Android application “Sudoku” of genina.com, a screenshot of the game is taken (a 720×1280 image is obtained), then the number found in each of the 81 squares is obtained using KNN algorithm, once each element is determined, the sudoku is solved using a constraint satisfaction algorithm with backtracking.
 

rsz_sudoku1

On the left is our input: Screenshot that we are going to analyze. On the right is the solution.

How this work? 
Step 1: Image Preprocessing 
First step, Image Preprocessing: Extract each sudoku square individually and save them sequentially as photo # .png (where # goes from 0 to 80). Images of 80×75 pixels are obtained.
Code: 
 

rsz_sudoku2

Input: photo0.png. This is the photo that we are going to analyze.

Code: 

python




#/Preprocessing.py / import cv2
import numpy as np
import Functions
 
# Relative path
path ="./Screenshots/"
 
# Image to analyze
number = input("Enter image number: ")
globalPath = path+"photo"+str(number)+".png"
image = cv2.imread(globalPath)
 
# Save the name of the image to analyze after in Main.py
file = open("image.txt", "w")
file.write(globalPath)
file.close()
 
# MAIN
if __name__ == '__main__':   
     
    # PREPROCESSING -> Crop the edges, ads and all
    # the images outside the sudoku board
    image = Functions.cropImage(image, 218)
    image = Functions.rotateImage(image, 180)
    image = Functions.cropImage(image, 348)
    image = Functions.rotateImage(image, 180)
     
    # Crop each box in the sudoku board
    cont = 0
    w = 0
    for j in range(9):
        h = 0
 
        for i in range(9):
 
            nombre = "image"+ str(cont) + ".png"
            image1 = Functions.cropBox(image, w, h, 75, 80)
 
            # Save the image
            Functions.saveImage(image1, nombre)
            h = h + 80
            cont = cont + 1
 
        # Position of the pixel where start the image
        w = 80*(j + 1)


Code: create a library with functions for only preprocessing and image transformation called “Functions”. 
 

python




#/Functions.py / import cv2
import numpy as np
 
# Function to rotate the image
def rotateImage(image, angle):
     image_center = tuple(np.array(image.shape[1::-1]) / 2)
     rot_mat = cv2.getRotationMatrix2D(image_center, angle, 1.0)
     result = cv2.warpAffine(image, rot_mat, image.shape[1::-1], flags = cv2.INTER_LINEAR)
     return result
  
# Function to crop top border in the image
def cropImage(image, x):
 
    # x determine how far to cut the image
    # fileb determines with what name we are going to save the image
    # Determine image dimensions
    height, width, channels = image.shape
    crop_img = image[x:height, 0:width]
    return crop_img
 
# Function to crop every box (there are 81 boxes in total)
def cropBox(image, x, y, h, w):
    # Each side of the square / box has a side of length 10
    crop_img = image[x:(x + h), y:(y + w)]
    return crop_img
 
# Function to save the image
def saveImage(image, fileb):
    new_path = "./Images/"
    cv2.imwrite(new_path + fileb, image)
    cv2.waitKey(0)
    cv2.destroyAllWindows()
 
# Function to crop all borders of each box
def cropBorder(image):
 
    # Determine image dimensions
    height, width, channels = image.shape
    crop_img = image[12:height-12, 12:width-12]
    return crop_img


Step 2: Image Transformation 
Cut out the borders of each box, in case there is any black border that can be inferred in our analysis.Each image has 56×51 pixels.
Code: 

python




#/Transformation.py / import cv2
import numpy as np
import Functions
 
# Relative path
path ="./Images/"
 
if __name__ == '__main__':
     
    for x in range(81):
 
        # Image to analyze
        nameImage = "image" + str(x) + ".png"
        image = cv2.imread(path + nameImage)
        image = Functions.cropBorder(image)
        Functions.saveImage(image, nameImage)


Step 3: KNN Classification
Analyze what number is in the box. In this case, Canny algorithm is used to determine if there is a number or it is an empty box. Then through the KNN algorithm it is determined which number is in the box. For the extraction of characteristics, the moments of Hu: 1 and 2, Gaussian filter for filtering and unsupervised thresholding were used.
Code: 

python




#/Preprocessing.py / import cv2
import numpy as np
import Functions
 
# Relative path
path ="./Screenshots/"
 
# Image to analyze
number = input("Enter image number: ")
globalPath = path+"photo"+str(number)+".png"
image = cv2.imread(globalPath)
 
# Save the name of the image to analyze after in Main.py
file = open("image.txt", "w")
file.write(globalPath)
file.close()
 
# MAIN
if __name__ == '__main__':   
     
    # PREPROCESSING -> Crop the edges, ads and all
    # the images outside the sudoku board
    image = Functions.cropImage(image, 218)
    image = Functions.rotateImage(image, 180)
    image = Functions.cropImage(image, 348)
    image = Functions.rotateImage(image, 180)
     
    # Crop each box in the sudoku board
    cont = 0
    w = 0
    for j in range(9):
        h = 0
 
        for i in range(9):
 
            nombre = "image"+ str(cont) + ".png"
            image1 = Functions.cropBox(image, w, h, 75, 80)
 
            # Save the image
            Functions.saveImage(image1, nombre)
            h = h + 80
            cont = cont + 1
 
        # Position of the pixel where start the image
        w = 80*(j + 1)


Show performance KNN algorithm


Vector.txt contains all the elements extracted from the screenshot (where the boxes were scrolled from left to right, from top to bottom). In this project, the performance of the KNN algorithm presented a 97% accuracy with respect to all the images analyzed in the Test. In case of any error in the recognition of the numbers there is the option to manually change a prediction of the box in the vector.txt.
 

Result of the recognition of all the digits of the sudoku grid of the image photo0.jpg

Step4: Now solve the sudoku! 
A restriction satisfaction algorithm with backtracking is presented to solve the sudoku. 
Code: 

python




#/Solver.py / import numpy as np
 
# Dictionary with grid numbers
def solverGrid(grid):
     
    values = valuesGrid(grid)
    return searchValues(values)
 
# Exchange of items
def exchangeValues(A, B):
     
    return [a + b for a in A for b in B]
 
# Define initial values
def initialValues(grid):
    return dict(zip(sections, grid))
 
# Define values in the grid
def valuesGrid(grid):
    numbers = []
 
    for c in grid:
        if c == '.':
            numbers.append('123456789')
        elif c in '123456789':
            numbers.append(c)
 
    return dict(zip(sections, numbers))
 
# Delete the values that are already inside the grid
def eliminateValues(numbers):
     
    solved_values = [box for box in numbers.keys() if len(numbers[box]) == 1]
    for box in solved_values:
        digit = numbers[box]
        for vecino in neighbors[box]:
            numbers[vecino] = numbers[vecino].replace(digit, '')
    return numbers
 
def onlyOption(numbers):
    for unit in unitlist:
        for digit in '123456789':
            dplaces = [box for box in unit if digit in numbers[box]]
            if len(dplaces) == 1:
                numbers[dplaces[0]] = digit
    return numbers
 
def reduceSudoku(numbers):
    stalled = False
    while not stalled:
        # Check how many boxes have a determined value
        solved_values_before = len([box for box in numbers.keys() if len(numbers[box]) == 1])
 
        # Set the Eliminate Strategy
        numbers = eliminateValues(numbers)
 
        # Use the Only Choice Strategy
        numbers = onlyOption(numbers)
 
        # Check how many boxes have a determined value, to compare
        solved_values_after = len([box for box in numbers.keys() if len(numbers[box]) == 1])
 
        # If no new values were added, stop the loop.
        stalled = solved_values_before == solved_values_after
 
        # Sanity check, return False if there is a box with zero available values:
        if len([box for box in numbers.keys() if len(numbers[box]) == 0]):
            return False
 
    return numbers
 
def searchValues(numbers):
 
    numbers = reduceSudoku(numbers)
 
    if numbers is False:
        return False    ## Failure
    if all(len(numbers[s]) == 1 for s in sections):
        return numbers  ## Ok
     
    # Choose one of the unfilled boxes
    unfilled_squares = [(len(numbers[s]), s) for s in sections if len(numbers[s]) > 1]
    n, s = min(unfilled_squares)
     
    # Solve the next boxes
    for value in numbers[s]:
        nova_sudoku = numbers.copy()
        nova_sudoku[s] = value
        attempt = searchValues(nova_sudoku)
        if attempt:
            return attempt
 
# Define values
rows = 'ABCDEFGHI'
columns = '123456789'
 
sections = exchangeValues(rows, columns)
rowsUnit = [exchangeValues(r, columns) for r in rows]
columnUnits = [exchangeValues(rows, c) for c in columns]
boxUnits = [exchangeValues(rs, cs) for rs in ('ABC', 'DEF', 'GHI') for cs in ('123', '456', '789')]
 
unitlist = rowsUnit + columnUnits + boxUnits
 
units = dict((s, [u for u in unitlist if s in u]) for s in sections)
neighbors = dict((s, set(sum(units[s], []))-set([s])) for s in sections)
 
# MAIN
if __name__ == '__main__':
     
    # With file manager to read the file vector.txt
    # that has all the values of the screenshot
    file = open("vector.txt", "r")
    lines = file.read()
    file.close()
 
    # Access the dictionary
    a = solverGrid(lines)
    b = sorted(a.items())
     
    # Save the dictionary solution
    np.save('Solution', b)


Step 5: Interface 
Improves the way the solution is displayed compared to the original screenshot.
Code: 

python




#/Interface.py /
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import cv2
 
# Read dictionary from Solution.npy
readDictionary = np.load('Solution.npy')
values = (readDictionary[:, 1])
 
# Read vector.txt
file = open("vector.txt", "r")
lines = file.read()
file.close()
 
# Read the path of the image the we want to analyze
fileTxt = open("image.txt", "r")
pathGlobal = fileTxt.read()
fileTxt.close()
 
# Obtain the coordinates to be able to
# locate them in the image
row = ["A", "B", "C", "D", "E", "F", "G", "H", "I"]
column = ["1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", "9"]
 
# Assign the coordinates of each number within the image plane
def coordinate():
    positionx = list()
    positiony = list()
     
    for k in range(9):
        for i in range(9):
         
            if (row[k] == "A"): y = 270
            elif (row[k] == "B"): y = 350
            elif (row[k] == "C"): y = 430
            elif (row[k] == "D"): y = 510
            elif (row[k] == "E"): y = 590
            elif (row[k] == "F"): y = 670
            elif (row[k] == "G"): y = 750
            elif (row[k] == "H"): y = 830
            elif (row[k] == "I"): y = 915
         
            if (column[i] == "1"): x = 19
            elif (column[i] == "2"): x = 98
            elif (column[i] == "3"): x = 182
            elif (column[i] == "4"): x = 261
            elif (column[i] == "5"): x = 335
            elif (column[i] == "6"): x = 419
            elif (column[i] == "7"): x = 499
            elif (column[i] == "8"): x = 580
            elif (column[i] == "9"): x = 660
 
            positionx.append(x)
            positiony.append(y)
         
    return (positionx, positiony)       
 
# Function to write value in each box in the image
def writeValue(image, valor, x, y):
         
    font = cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_SIMPLEX
    text = str(valor)
     
    # Write text in the image
    cv2.putText(image, text, (x, y), font, 2, (255, 0, 0), 5)
    # cv2.putText(image, text, (coordinates), size font, (color RGB), thickness)
     
    return image
 
# Load image
image = cv2.imread(pathGlobal)
image2 = image.copy()
 
# Load coordinates
positionx, positiony = coordinate()
 
for i in range(81):
    if (lines[i] == "."):
        image = writeValue(image, values[i], positionx[i], positiony[i])
 
# Concatenate images horizontally
image = np.concatenate((image2, image), axis = 1)
 
# Show image concatenation  
plt.imshow(image)
plt.axis("off")
plt.show()
 
# Save image
cv2.imwrite("./Interface / example.png", image)


Output:
 

rsz_sudoku3

Results for photo1.png

 

sudoku

Results for photo2.png

All the images for the training of the KNN algorithm and the screenshots of example can be found in given repository
 



Last Updated : 18 Jan, 2022
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