Facial expression estimation using simplified head model based on particle filtering

We propose a method for real time estimation of head poses and facial expressions without using a complex 3D head model. Most conventional methods for head pose and facial expression estimation required preliminary estimation using a complex 3D head model. In the proposed method, however, a large number of feature points and a whole facial image are not required in order to estimate facial expressions. The proposed method estimates the head pose and facial expression based on a simplified 3D deformable facial shape model approximated by a cylindrical model. In order to show the effectiveness of the proposed method, we performed facial expression estimation experiments.