A
motion tracking system enables faithful capture of subtle facial and eye motion using a surface
electromyography (EMG) detection method to detect
muscle movements and an electrooculogram (EOG) detection method to detect eye movements. Signals corresponding to the detected
muscle and eye movements are used to control an animated character to exhibit the same movements performed by a performer. An embodiment of the motion tracking
animation system comprises a plurality of pairs of EMG electrodes adapted to be affixed to a
skin surface of a performer at plural locations corresponding to respective muscles, and a processor operatively coupled to the plurality of pairs of EMG electrodes. The processor includes
programming instructions to perform the functions of acquiring EMG data from the plurality of pairs of EMG electrodes. The EMG data comprises electrical signals corresponding to
muscle movements of the performer during a performance. The
programming instructions further include
processing the EMG data to provide a digital model of the muscle movements, and mapping the digital model onto an animated character. In another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of pairs of EOG electrodes are adapted to be affixed to the
skin surface of the performer at locations adjacent to the performer's eyes. The processor is operatively coupled to the plurality of pairs of EOG electrodes and further includes
programming instructions to perform the functions of acquiring EOG data from the plurality of pairs of EOG electrodes. The EOG data comprises electrical signals corresponding to eye movements of the performer during a performance. The programming instructions further provide
processing of the EOG data and mapping of the processed EOG data onto the animated character. As a result, the animated character will exhibit the same muscle and eye movements as the performer.