Real time markerless motion tracking using linked kinematic chains
First Claim
1. A Markerless method for tracking a subject in a workspace comprising:
- providing a video imaging system comprising;
a plurality of video cameras simultaneously viewing the subject in said workspace;
means for digitally acquiring images output from said video cameras; and
,means for digitally processing said images;
calibrating said video cameras and said workspace, said workspace further comprising a three dimensional array of voxels;
providing a model template for said subject comprising a plurality of rigid segments linked by joints;
initializing a model of said subject comprising;
acquiring a first volumetric data set from said video imaging system;
said first volumetric data set comprising a listing of said voxels occupied by said subject;
dimensioning the rigid segments of the model template by fitting said rigid segments to said first volumetric data set;
acquiring a second volumetric data set from said video imaging system, said second volumetric data set further comprising listing of said voxels occupied by said subject;
aligning the model to said second volumetric data set, said aligning further comprising calculating in three dimensions a plurality of forces acting on said model, applying said plurality of forces to said model, said plurality of forces causing a displacement of the model;
wherein aligning said model to said second volumetric data set further comprises;
(a) projecting said occupied voxels from said second data set onto said rigid segments of the model, wherein each of said occupied voxels is projected onto each of the rigid segments nearest each of said occupied voxels;
(b) calculating a force exerted on each of said rigid segments by each of said occupied voxels projected onto each of said rigid segments;
(c) combining the force exerted on each of said rigid segments into an equivalent force exerted on each of said rigid segments;
(d) calculating a torque exerted on each of said rigid segments, about each of said joints;
(e) calculating a translational acceleration resultant from said equivalent force, acting on each of said rigid segments;
(f) calculating a rotational acceleration resultant from said torque, exerted on each of said rigid segments, about each of said joints;
(g) determining an incremental displacement of each of said rigid segments resulting from the calculated accelerations;
(h) displacing each rigid segment by the calculated incremental displacement;
(i) computing a distance between each of said occupied voxels and each of said rigid segments each of said occupied voxels is projected onto;
(j) comparing the computed distance to a threshold value; and
(k) repeating steps (b) through (j) until said computed distance is less than the threshold value;
whereby said model segments are iteratively aligned to the second data set; and
,repeating the steps of acquiring a second volumetric data set and aligning the model to said second volumetric data set ad infinitum.
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Abstract
A markerless method is described for tracking the motion of subjects in a three dimensional environment using a model based on linked kinematic chains. The invention is suitable for tracking robotic, animal or human subjects in real-time using a single computer with inexpensive video equipment, and does not require the use of markers or specialized clothing. A simple model of rigid linked segments is constructed of the subject and tracked using three dimensional volumetric data collected by a multiple camera video imaging system. A physics based method is then used to compute forces to align the model with subsequent volumetric data sets in real-time. The method is able to handle occlusion of segments and accommodates joint limits, velocity constraints, and collision constraints and provides for error recovery. The method further provides for elimination of singularities in Jacobian based calculations, which has been problematic in alternative methods.
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Citations
2 Claims
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1. A Markerless method for tracking a subject in a workspace comprising:
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providing a video imaging system comprising; a plurality of video cameras simultaneously viewing the subject in said workspace; means for digitally acquiring images output from said video cameras; and
,means for digitally processing said images; calibrating said video cameras and said workspace, said workspace further comprising a three dimensional array of voxels; providing a model template for said subject comprising a plurality of rigid segments linked by joints; initializing a model of said subject comprising; acquiring a first volumetric data set from said video imaging system; said first volumetric data set comprising a listing of said voxels occupied by said subject; dimensioning the rigid segments of the model template by fitting said rigid segments to said first volumetric data set; acquiring a second volumetric data set from said video imaging system, said second volumetric data set further comprising listing of said voxels occupied by said subject; aligning the model to said second volumetric data set, said aligning further comprising calculating in three dimensions a plurality of forces acting on said model, applying said plurality of forces to said model, said plurality of forces causing a displacement of the model; wherein aligning said model to said second volumetric data set further comprises; (a) projecting said occupied voxels from said second data set onto said rigid segments of the model, wherein each of said occupied voxels is projected onto each of the rigid segments nearest each of said occupied voxels; (b) calculating a force exerted on each of said rigid segments by each of said occupied voxels projected onto each of said rigid segments; (c) combining the force exerted on each of said rigid segments into an equivalent force exerted on each of said rigid segments; (d) calculating a torque exerted on each of said rigid segments, about each of said joints; (e) calculating a translational acceleration resultant from said equivalent force, acting on each of said rigid segments; (f) calculating a rotational acceleration resultant from said torque, exerted on each of said rigid segments, about each of said joints; (g) determining an incremental displacement of each of said rigid segments resulting from the calculated accelerations; (h) displacing each rigid segment by the calculated incremental displacement; (i) computing a distance between each of said occupied voxels and each of said rigid segments each of said occupied voxels is projected onto; (j) comparing the computed distance to a threshold value; and (k) repeating steps (b) through (j) until said computed distance is less than the threshold value; whereby said model segments are iteratively aligned to the second data set; and
,repeating the steps of acquiring a second volumetric data set and aligning the model to said second volumetric data set ad infinitum. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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Specification