Improved Human Motion Capture Apparatus

Human motion capture devices are in demand in a number of fields. Currently available systems are greatly limited in flexibility and quality. Furthermore, since they depend upon adorning the subject with suits of sensors or targets, the present art is totally unsuited to surveillance or reconnaissance. Without sensors or targets to place on the subject , detection, tracking, and measurement may be accomplished by the processing of ordinary video images. Enormous amounts of research have been performed on the problems relevant to this effort, but no commercial motion capture systems have yet transferred this technology. We propose to integrate technologies from these areas of research into a robust and capable motion capture system. Our primary market is the burgeoning computer animation industry, but since our development leverages the large installed base of surveillance cameras, it would also enjoy success in the surveillance industry.