Swistrack
Encyclopedia
SwisTrack is a tool for tracking robot
s, humans, animals and objects using a camera
or a recorded video
as input source. It uses Intel's OpenCV
library for fast image processing
and contains interfaces for USB
, FireWire and GigE
cameras, as well as AVI
files.
The architecture of SwisTrack is flexible to allow the user to track (marked and marker-less) objects in many situations. So-called components are stuck together within the component pipeline (like Lego
bricks) and configured. Each component then performs one processing step, which can be visualized in real-time. SwisTrack already comes with a series of components, but for specialized tasks, programmers are free to implement their own components. Position and trajectory information can be retrieved via TCP/IP in NMEA 0183 format. Such data can easily be recorded for post-processing, or used in a real-time fashion.
SwisTrack has mainly been developed by the Distributed Intelligent Systems and Algorithms Laboratory (DISAL) and the LPM Vision Group at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
s, humans, animals and objects using a camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
or a recorded video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
as input source. It uses Intel's OpenCV
OpenCV
OpenCV is a library of programming functions mainly aimed at real time computer vision, developed by Intel and now supported by Willow Garage. It is free for use under the open source BSD license. The library is cross-platform. It focuses mainly on real-time image processing...
library for fast image processing
Image processing
In electrical engineering and computer science, image processing is any form of signal processing for which the input is an image, such as a photograph or video frame; the output of image processing may be either an image or, a set of characteristics or parameters related to the image...
and contains interfaces for USB
Universal Serial Bus
USB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
, FireWire and GigE
Gigabit Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet is a term describing various technologies for transmitting Ethernet frames at a rate of a gigabit per second , as defined by the IEEE 802.3-2008 standard. It came into use beginning in 1999, gradually supplanting Fast Ethernet in wired local networks where it performed...
cameras, as well as AVI
Audio Video Interleave
Audio Video Interleave , known by its acronym AVI, is a multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft in November 1992 as part of its Video for Windows technology. AVI files can contain both audio and video data in a file container that allows synchronous audio-with-video playback...
files.
The architecture of SwisTrack is flexible to allow the user to track (marked and marker-less) objects in many situations. So-called components are stuck together within the component pipeline (like Lego
Lego
Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
bricks) and configured. Each component then performs one processing step, which can be visualized in real-time. SwisTrack already comes with a series of components, but for specialized tasks, programmers are free to implement their own components. Position and trajectory information can be retrieved via TCP/IP in NMEA 0183 format. Such data can easily be recorded for post-processing, or used in a real-time fashion.
SwisTrack has mainly been developed by the Distributed Intelligent Systems and Algorithms Laboratory (DISAL) and the LPM Vision Group at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland.