Robohub.org
 

Tracking 3D objects in real-time using active stereo vision


by
10 November 2012



share this:

In a recent publications in the Journal Autonomous Robots, a team of researchers from the UK, Italy and France propose a new technique that allows an active binocular robot to fixate and track objects while performing 3D reconstruction in real-time.

Humans have the ability to track objects by turning their head to and gazing at areas of interest. Integrating images from both eyes provides depth information that allows us to represent 3D objects. Such feats could prove useful in robotic systems with similar vision functionalities. POPEYE, shown in the image to the left, is able to independently move its head and two cameras used for stereo vision.

To perform 3D reconstruction of object features, the robot needs to know the spatial relationship between its two cameras. For this purpose, Sapienza et al. calibrate the robot vision system before the experiment by placing cards with known patterns in the environment and systematically moving the camera motors to learn how these motor changes impact the images captured. After calibration, and thanks to some math (homography-based method), the robot is able to measure how much its motors have moved and relate that to changes in the image features. Measuring motor changes is very fast, allowing for real-time 3D tracking.

Results show that the robot is able to keep track of a human face while performing 3D reconstruction. In the future, the authors hope to add zooming functionalities to their method.

Source: Michael Sapienza, Miles Hansard and Radu Horaud (2012) Real-time visuomotor update of an active binocular head, Autonomous Robots.



tags:


Sabine Hauert is President of Robohub and Associate Professor at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory
Sabine Hauert is President of Robohub and Associate Professor at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory





Related posts :



Livestream of RoboCup2025

  18 Jul 2025
Watch the competition live from Salvador!

Tackling the 3D Simulation League: an interview with Klaus Dorer and Stefan Glaser

and   15 Jul 2025
With RoboCup2025 starting today, we found out more about the 3D simulation league, and the new simulator they have in the works.

An interview with Nicolai Ommer: the RoboCupSoccer Small Size League

and   01 Jul 2025
We caught up with Nicolai to find out more about the Small Size League, how the auto referees work, and how teams use AI.

RoboCupRescue: an interview with Adam Jacoff

and   25 Jun 2025
Find out what's new in the RoboCupRescue League this year.

Robot Talk Episode 126 – Why are we building humanoid robots?

  20 Jun 2025
In this special live recording at Imperial College London, Claire chatted to Ben Russell, Maryam Banitalebi Dehkordi, and Petar Kormushev about humanoid robotics.

Gearing up for RoboCupJunior: Interview with Ana Patrícia Magalhães

and   18 Jun 2025
We hear from the organiser of RoboCupJunior 2025 and find out how the preparations are going for the event.

Robot Talk Episode 125 – Chatting with robots, with Gabriel Skantze

  13 Jun 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Gabriel Skantze from KTH Royal Institute of Technology about having natural face-to-face conversations with robots.

Preparing for kick-off at RoboCup2025: an interview with General Chair Marco Simões

and   12 Jun 2025
We caught up with Marco to find out what exciting events are in store at this year's RoboCup.



 

Robohub is supported by:




Would you like to learn how to tell impactful stories about your robot or AI system?


scicomm
training the next generation of science communicators in robotics & AI


©2025.05 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence


 












©2025.05 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence