Contour tracking with automatic motion model switching

Abstract

In this paper we present an efficient contour-tracking algorithm which can track 2D silhouette of objects in extended image sequences. We demonstrate the ability of the tracker by tracking highly deformable contours (such as walking people) captured by a static camera. We represent contours (silhouette) of moving objects by using a cubic B-spline. The tracking algorithm is based on tracking a lower dimensional shape space (as opposed to tracking in spline space). Tracking the lower dimensional space has proved to be fast and efficient. The tracker is also coupled with an automatic motion-model switching algorithm, which makes the tracker robust and reliable when the object of interest is moving with multiple motion. The model-based tracking technique provided is capable of tracking rigid and non-rigid object contours with good tracking accuracy. © 2003 Pattern Recognition Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.