Realistic Motion Estimation Using Accelerometers

A challenging goal for both the game industry and the research community of computer graphics is the generation of 3D virtual avatars that automatically perform realistic human motions with high speed at low monetary cost. So far, full body motion estimation of human complexity remains an important open problem. We propose a realistic motion estimation framework to control the animation of 3D avatars. Instead of relying on a motion capture device as the control signal, we use low-cost and ubiquitously available 3D accelerometer sensors. The framework is developed in a data-driven fashion, which includes two phases: model learning from an existing high quality motion database, and motion synthesis from the control signal. In the phase of model learning, we built a high quality motion model of less complexity that learned from a large motion capture database. Then, by taking the 3D accelerometer sensor signal as input, we were able to synthesize high-quality motion from the motion model we learned. In this thesis, we present two different techniques for model learning and motion synthesis, respectively. Linear and nonlinear reduction techniques for data dimensionality are applied to search for the proper low dimensional representation of motion data. Two motion synthesis methods, interpolation and optimization, are compared using the 3D acceleration signals with high noise. We evaluate the result visually compared to the real video and quantitatively compared to the ground truth motion. The system performs well, which makes it available to a wide range of interactive applications, such as character control in 3D virtual environments and occupational training.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Computer Science

Department dc:contributor.department

Computer Science

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Xie, Liguang

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Cao, Yong

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Quek, Francis K. H.
• Ehrich, Roger W.

• Locally linear embedding
• Performance animation
• Optimization
• Motion synthesis
• Accelerometers
• Interpolation

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-06192009-152207

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/43368