openCV RunningAvg implementation - opencv

Question

I am writing a small script (in Python) that generates and updates a running average of a camera feed. When I call cv.RunningAvg it returns:
cv2.error: func != 0
Where am I stumbling in implementing cv.RunningAvg? Script follows:
import cv
feed = cv.CaptureFromCAM(0)
frame = cv.QueryFrame(feed)
moving_average = cv.QueryFrame(feed)
cv.NamedWindow('live', cv.CV_WINDOW_AUTOSIZE)
def loop():
frame = cv.QueryFrame(feed)
cv.ShowImage('live', frame)
c = cv.WaitKey(10)
cv.RunningAvg(frame, moving_average, 0.020, None)
while True:
loop()

Answer 1

I am not sure about the error, but check out the documentation for cv.RunningAvg
It says destination should be 32 or 64-bit floating point.
So I made a small correction in your code and it works. I created a 32-bit floating point image to store running average values, then another 8 bit image so that I can show running average image :
import cv2.cv as cv
feed = cv.CaptureFromCAM(0)
frame = cv.QueryFrame(feed)
moving_average = cv.CreateImage(cv.GetSize(frame),32,3) # image to store running avg
avg_show = cv.CreateImage(cv.GetSize(frame),8,3) # image to show running avg
def loop():
frame = cv.QueryFrame(feed)
c = cv.WaitKey(10)
cv.RunningAvg(frame, moving_average, 0.1, None)
cv.ConvertScaleAbs(moving_average,avg_show) # converting back to 8-bit to show
cv.ShowImage('live', frame)
cv.ShowImage('avg',avg_show)
while True:
loop()
cv.DestroyAllWindows()
Now see the result :
At a particular instant, I saved a frame and its corresponding running average frame.
Original frame :
You can see the obstacle (my hand) blocks the objects in behind.
Now running average frame :
It almost removed my hand and shows objects in background.
That is how it is a good tool for background subtraction.
One more example from a typical traffic video :
You can see more details and samples here : http://opencvpython.blogspot.com/2012/07/background-extraction-using-running.html