A three-dimensional object recognizing system comprises a distance image
generating portion for generating a distance image by using image pairs
picked up by a stereoscopic camera, a grouping processing portion for
grouping the distance data indicating the same three-dimensional object
on the distance image, an input value setting portion for setting an area
containing distance data group of grouped three-dimensional object on the
distance image and also setting input values having typical distance data
as elements every small area that is obtained by dividing the area by a
set number of partition, a computing portion for computing output values
having a pattern that responds to a previously set three-dimensional
object by using a neural network that has at least the input values Xin
as inputs to an input layer, and a discriminating portion for
discriminating the type of the three-dimensional object based on the
pattern of the output values.