A human orientation tracking system using Template Matching and active Infrared marker

Human tracking research has been reinforced with the introduction of vision-based motion tracking sensors such as Microsoft Kinect and Intel RealSense since 2009. No longer limited to just wearable sensors, embedded environments and 2D camera feed, stereoscopic digital cameras and Infrared imaging has enabled perceivable depth and distance to contribute to geo-location, activity tracking, and automated detection of abnormal events. However, current motion tracking systems have a limited zone of detection and tracking, subjected to environmental lighting, lens occlusion and hardware factors. This study proposes and demonstrates the possibility of complementing these existing sensors with a simple human tracking system that can be used to direct their reorientation in order to maintain the tracked person within their optimal zone of detection. The prototype in this study utilizes an Infrared Camera and an active Infrared marker to track the pan orientation of a person by means of Template Matching - finding a template image match that indicates the angle of marker pan. By knowing the target's angle of pan, a Microsoft Kinect sensor can be autonomously relocated to the front of the person via the shortest path around. This implementation may also be retooled for other systems that have a smaller zone of detection.