3-D motion estimation and object tracking using B-spline curve modeling

The problem of tracking a moving object having markings on its surface in front of a static camera is addressed. In this case, the motion analysis reduces to the problem of tracking these markings from frame to frame. The markings are modeled by B-splines. The problem of establishing the correspondence between the image markings points in the various frames is bypassed by relating the B-spline parameters of the same marking viewed at different frames. Implicit in this relationship are the motion parameters. The complexity of the problem is significantly reduced by first acquiring the 3-D object curve structure before the usual motion estimation