Fine-Motion Estimation Using Ego/Exo-Cameras

Abstract

Robust motion estimation for human computer interactions played an important role in a novel method of interaction with electronic devices. Existing pose estimation using a monocular camera employs either ego-motion or exo-motion, both of which are not sufficiently accurate for estimating fine motion due to the motion ambiguity of rotation and translation. This paper presents a hybrid vision-based pose estimation method for fine-motion estimation that is specifically capable of extracting human body motion accurately. The method uses an ego-camera attached to a point of interest and exo-cameras located in the immediate surroundings of the point of interest. The exo-cameras can easily track the exact position of the point of interest by triangulation. Once the position is given, the ego-camera can accurately obtain the point of interest's orientation. In this way, any ambiguity between rotation and translation is eliminated and the exact motion of a target point (that is, ego-camera) can then be obtained. The proposed method is expected to provide a practical solution for robustly estimating fine motion in a non-contact manner, such as in interactive games that are designed for special purposes (for example, remote rehabilitation care systems).