1. A processor for continuously processing video data of an object moving relative to at least one line scan sensor to extract features and measurements of the object and outputting said features and measurements to a host computer, said processor comprising: a plurality of parallel channels having an upstream end and a downstream end, each of said channels comprising: a pipeline video data bus for continuously receiving video data at the upstream end and transferring the video data to the downstream end, a plurality of modules connected along the pipeline video data bus, each module of said plurality of modules comprising: a crossbar switch connected to the pipeline video bus, said crossbar switch directing the video data into, within and out of said module, a pixel processing element connected to the crossbar switch, said pixel processing element performing a continuous operation on said video data for extracting features and measurements therefrom, a microprocessor operably integrated within each module for controlling the operation thereof, each microprocessor of said plurality of modules serially connected together for transmitting and undertaking commands issued by a host computer for controlling the operation of said processor.