A public university in Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom, called the University of Bath, made a significant finding in the computer and canine world. A motion capture system that can turn dogs into a digital avatar using technology was recently discovered. And all this can be done is just one step.
Taking a film of the pup using a single camera is all that is needed. There is no more need to go through the hassle of making the pups wear a motion-capture suit. This new invention can be both a source of entertainment and could pave the way for new possibilities for the film and health industries.
The most important benefit of this research has a lot to do with dogs. This discovery will make it simpler for dog parents to monitor their dog’s health. It also makes it possible for vets to examine a dog online through their digital avatars.
This invention also serves the entertainment industry. It will make the work of adding digital dogs into video games and movies a lot easier since a motion suit is not required to capture their movements. And dog parents can even create an avatar of their dogs just for their own entertainment.
Computer scientists from the motion capture research center (CAMERA) of the University of Bath conducted this amazing research. Dogs from BCDH were also a crucial part to see if the research was truly effective. The director of CAMERA, Darren Cosker, confidently said that their research is a move towards establishing accurate 3D animal models’ motions.
The research started with 14 pups from the Bath Cats and Dogs Home. They included pups of all sizes and breeds. They dressed each dog in a special motion suit that had round markers around it and made them do activities for the researchers to film a series of actions. With the data gathered from the pup’s movements, they were able to create digital models of the dogs.
The models can replicate and predict a pup’s movement even without the motion suit, and all they need to do that is the RGBD camera. The RGBD works differently from the standard RGB camera since it can recognize an object’s range from the RGBD camera. This research was presented at a conference and have started testing their discovery in other animals such as cats, lions, and horses. It is really something to look forward to!
Credits to Bath Cats and Dogs Home
