Top Page | English | 简体中文 | 繁體中文 | 한국어 | 日本語
Tuesday, 27 October 2015, 11:44 HKT/SGT
Share:
    

Source: Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi Developed Technology which Accurately Measures Human Behavior and Estimates Attributes in Real Time
Realized by analyzing 3D data obtained from a stereo camera

TOKYO, Oct 27, 2015 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501 "Hitachi") today announced that it has developed a technology which can accurately measure human behavior and estimate attributes(characteristics) in real time. By analyzing 3D data obtained from a stereo camera*1, human behavior can be measured accurately, in real time, even in a crowded space, which used to be difficult with 2D image data from conventional surveillance cameras. Additionally, by analyzing 3D data of the shapes of people and the objects around them, accessory objects such as baby strollers and wheelchairs for example, can be identified. By using this data, the each person's attribute of their owners - for example, a guest with his/her child or an elderly person who needs assistance - can also be estimated. The new technology can be applied to a variety of fields such as marketing to provide services depending on the behavior and attributes of people in commercial facilities, offices, event halls, and other spaces.

Hitachi Developed Technology which Accurately Measures Human Behavior and Estimates Attributes in Real Time

In recent years, advances in sensor technologies and improvements in information processing capability such as big data analysis has been raising expectation for efforts to increase the value of spaces. For example, highly convenient layout can be realized by statistically analyzing vast amounts of data, such as data of human behavior, generated in spaces where people gather. Also, by combining and analyzing data of attributes, such as age group and the presence of a accompanied child, found in individual behavioral data, services tailored to diverse individual needs is expected to offer. Support services to improve QoL (Quality of Life) is especially needed to address issues facing society today, such as an aging and falling birth-rate population and reduction of the burden that physically challenged persons experience.

Conventional technologies to measure human behavior include the use of surveillance cameras, laser radars, infrared tags, and GPS-equipped information terminals.

Measurement using surveillance camera image data generally determines the positions of people by detecting their silhouettes. However, silhouettes cannot be recognized by this method in a crowded space, and manual manipulation is necessary.

Conventional methods thus have difficulty in measuring human behavior in real time and with great accuracy. Hitachi has now developed a technology that solves this problem. By leveraging Hitachi's image recognition technologies and stereo camera technologies accumulated over many years, the new technology measures the behavior of people and estimates their attributes with high accuracy and in real time. A stereo camera is a sensor featuring two separate lenses which recognize the external world as human eyes, and the camera can measure the distance between itself and objects and acquire its 3D data. It is thus possible to stably measure human behavior even in a crowded space where people overlap, and process the obtained data accurately and in real time. Furthermore, by performing stereoscopic analysis of people and their surrounding objects, for example, large luggage and baby strollers can be identified, and the attributes of their owners can be estimated.

Hitachi is engaged in research and development to commercialize this technology and contribute to realizing more comfortable urban spaces and providing services tailored to individual needs.

Features of the Developed Technology

Technology that Accurately Estimates Human Behavior in Real Time by Analyzing 3D Data Obtained from a Stereo Camera

Unlike conventional monocular surveillance cameras, a stereo camera features the ability to capture stereoscopic 3D data with right and left lens. In the case of measurement using image data from conventional surveillance cameras, people and objects are identified by matching their 2D silhouettes with data registered in a database in advance. In a space crowded with occluded people, manual adjustments are required to recognize silhouettes as people. With a stereo camera, the distance of an object from the camera can be determined in the same manner as human eyes do by calculating the disparities in images captured by the left and right lenses. Based on this range information, 3D data is created. By extracting data near the head region of people and converting it to image data representing a downward view, the positions of people in a crowded space can be measured stably, and highly accurate processing can be performed in real time. Also, by determining temporal changes of people's positions in the images, their positions can be precisely tracked. In evaluations using data from actual environments, the tracking rate improved by approximately 30 percent(2).

2. Technology that Estimates People's Attributes with Shape Analysis of 3D Data

Hitachi's new technology estimates people's attribute by performing stereoscopic analysis of the shapes of peoples and the objects around them, such as baby strollers and wheelchairs. The technology makes it possible to identify the mass and shapes of objects from the analysis of 3D data of people's positions at any height and their surroundings. By comparing the 3D data with the data of objects registered in advance, accessory objects such as baby strollers, shopping carts, and wheelchairs can be identified. The traits of their owners - for example, a guest with his/her child or an elderly person who needs assistance - can be also estimated. In this way, services that meet individual needs can be provided. Examples include changing contents presented on information terminals and signage in response to different estimated attributes, and providing assistance to help elderly customers in moving by dispatching staff.

(1) Stereo camera: A camera equipped with two lenses on both sides and sensor devices to capture two images. It takes a right and a left image simultaneously, and from the visual differences between the two images, depth direction information can be obtained and space can be understood stereoscopically.

(2) Compared with conventional technologies in Hitachi's evaluation data.


Contact:
Hitachi Ltd
Corporate Communications
Tel: +81-3-3258-1111


Topic: Press release summary
Source: Hitachi, Ltd.

Sectors: Electronics
http://www.acnnewswire.com
From the Asia Corporate News Network


Copyright © 2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.


Hitachi, Ltd. Links

http://www.hitachi.com

https://www.facebook.com/hitachi.global/

https://twitter.com/hitachiglobal?lang=en

https://www.youtube.com/user/HitachiBrandChannel

https://ph.linkedin.com/company/hitachi

Hitachi, Ltd.
Apr 5, 2024 16:15 HKT/SGT
Hitachi Energy and SP Energy Networks to boost renewable energy flow
Apr 5, 2024 16:00 HKT/SGT
Hitachi Selected as "Excellent TCFD Disclosure" by GPIF's External Asset Managers for the Third Consecutive Year
Mar 26, 2024 18:04 HKT/SGT
JFE Steel and Hitachi Jointly Started Providing Solutions for the Steel Industry
Mar 22, 2024 15:04 HKT/SGT
Hitachi Selected as CDP Supplier Engagement Leader for the Third Consecutive Year
Mar 19, 2024 18:11 HKT/SGT
Hitachi Collaborates with NVIDIA to Accelerate Digital Transformation with Generative AI
Mar 19, 2024 11:35 HKT/SGT
Hitachi Vantara Announces Collaboration with NVIDIA to Create New Portfolio of Industrial AI Solutions
Mar 15, 2024 10:21 HKT/SGT
Hitachi High-Tech Launches High-sensitivity and High-throughput Wafer Surface Inspection System LS9300AD for Wafer Manufacturers
Mar 11, 2024 15:44 HKT/SGT
Hitachi Forges a Three Year Strategic Alliance with AWS to Advance Hybrid Cloud Solutions
Feb 15, 2024 10:22 HKT/SGT
Hitachi Energy and TransnetBW make German grid fit for future
Feb 9, 2024 12:41 HKT/SGT
Contributing to Efficient Development of Metal Thin Film Materials by Using Chemicals Informatics and Materials Informatics
More news >>
 News Alerts
Copyright © 2024 ACN Newswire - Asia Corporate News Network
Home | About us | Services | Partners | Events | Login | Contact us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | RSS
US: +1 214 890 4418 | Beijing: +86 400 879 3881 | Hong Kong: +852 8192 4922 | Singapore: +65 6549 7068 | Tokyo: +81 3 6859 8575

Connect With us: