Depth Camera Body Model Tracking for Measurement Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring physical body changes over time, such as diet or exercise progress, are qualitative and prone to human error, making them unreliable for quantitatively observing long-term trends.
Innovation Solution
Employing a depth camera and imaging sensors to capture depth images, which are analyzed to create a virtual body model that can be compared over time, providing accurate and precise measurements of body changes, such as waist and arm circumference, and displayed as visual feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual measurements and 2D photos are used to monitor body changes, then the method is simple and easy to operate, but the measurement precision and reliability are poor due to human error and qualitative assessment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement methods (tape measures, visual estimation) with an automated optical system using depth cameras and image processing algorithms. This substitution eliminates human error in measurement while providing quantitative, precise body dimension data through computer vision technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual 3D copy of the user's body model from depth image data. This digital replica allows for accurate measurement and tracking of body changes over time without requiring physical contact or manual measurement tools, thereby improving precision while maintaining ease of use.
2Reliability
If depth cameras and image analysis are used to create virtual body models, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but the device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration and automatic model generation without requiring expert intervention. The depth camera automatically captures data, the processing algorithms autonomously create and update the virtual body model, and the system continuously refines measurements, reducing the need for complex manual setup and calibration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The depth camera system serves multiple functions: capturing depth data, generating 3D body models, measuring body dimensions, and tracking changes over time. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate devices into a single system, managing complexity while improving reliability.
3Loss of information
If quantitative body measurements are extracted from depth images, then long-term trend analysis becomes possible, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to image processing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of depth images to create a standardized virtual body model before measurement extraction. This pre-processing step organizes the complex image data into a structured format, making subsequent measurements more straightforward and reducing the overall difficulty of the detection and measurement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual body model acts as an intermediary between the raw depth image data and the final measurements. Instead of directly extracting measurements from complex images, the system first generates a simplified 3D model that serves as an intermediate representation, making the measurement extraction process more manageable and accurate.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments related to monitoring physical body changes over time are disclosed. One embodiment provides a computing device configured to receive a depth image representing an observed scene comprising a user and detect a representation of the user in the depth image. The computing device is further configured to determine an adjusted body model based on a comparison between an initial body model and the representation of the user, and output to a display device a representation of the adjusted body model.