A novel visual tracking scheme for unstructured indoor environments

Abstract

In the ever-expanding sphere of assistive robotics, the pressing need for advanced methods capable of accurately tracking individuals within unstructured indoor settings has been magnified. This research endeavours to devise a realtime visual tracking mechanism that encapsulates high performance attributes while maintaining minimal computational requirements. Inspired by the neural processes of the human brain’s visual information handling, our innovative algorithm employs a pattern image, serving as an ephemeral memory, which facilitates the identification of motion within images. This tracking paradigm was subjected to rigorous testing on a Nao humanoid robot, demonstrating noteworthy outcomes in controlled laboratory conditions. The algorithm exhibited a remarkably low false detection rate, less than 4%, and target losses were recorded in merely 12% of instances, thus attesting to its successful operation. Moreover, the algorithm’s capacity to accurately estimate the direct distance to the target further substantiated its high efficacy. These compelling findings serve as a substantial contribution to assistive robotics. The proficient visual tracking methodology proposed herein holds the potential to markedly amplify the competencies of robots operating in dynamic, unstructured indoor settings, and set the foundation for a higher degree of complex interactive tasks.