3D Gesture Recognition Using Depth Sensors for Stable Hand Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for remote control of devices using hand gestures are limited by their reliance on two-dimensional outline recognition, which is unstable under varying lighting conditions and requires the user to be aware of the camera's position, restricting the user's posture and freedom of operation.
Innovation Solution
An information input apparatus that uses a sensor to observe the environment, separates foreground and background using three-dimensional models, and recognizes the user's hand gestures independently of the camera's position, allowing intuitive control of devices without the need for a pointing device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If two-dimensional outline recognition is used for gesture detection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the recognition stability deteriorates under varying lighting conditions and observation directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional outline recognition to three-dimensional gesture recognition by introducing depth information through a depth sensor. This dimensional change allows the system to capture the spatial structure of hand gestures in three dimensions, making recognition stable regardless of lighting conditions or observation angles. The three-dimensional coordinate system enables accurate gesture detection without requiring the user to be conscious of camera position.
2Ease of operation
If two-dimensional outline recognition is used, then the ease of operation is improved for simple devices, but the adaptability to different user postures and camera positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing the third dimension (depth) through a depth sensor, the system creates a three-dimensional coordinate system that adapts to various user postures and camera positions. This allows users to perform gestures naturally without needing to align their hands with the camera plane, significantly improving adaptability while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter space from two-dimensional (x, y) to three-dimensional (x, y, z) coordinates. This parameter expansion allows the system to recognize gestures regardless of the user's distance from the camera or angular position, making the operation adaptable to diverse user postures and environments.
3Measurement precision
If three-dimensional feature point tracking is used, then the measurement precision of finger positions is improved, but the reliability deteriorates when lighting conditions change abruptly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical-based feature point tracking (which relies on light and image processing) with a depth sensing mechanism that directly measures spatial positions. This substitution eliminates the vulnerability to lighting changes, as the depth sensor captures three-dimensional information independently of illumination conditions, maintaining both precision and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An information input apparatus includes an observation unit that observes an environment including a user and one or more apparatuses to be controlled and includes a sensor; a learning unit that separates a foreground including the user and the one or more apparatuses to be controlled and a background including the environment except for the foreground from observation data obtained by the observation unit and learns three-dimensional models of the foreground and the background; a state estimation unit that estimates positions and postures of already modeled foregrounds in the environment; a user recognition unit that identifies fingers of the user from the foreground and recognizes a shape, position, and posture of the fingers; and an apparatus control unit that outputs a control command to the one or more apparatuses to be controlled on the basis of the recognized shape, position, and posture of the fingers.