The many uses of motion capture
As a film and video game fanatic, I was recently luckyenough to enter the world of motion capture through work. In addition to enjoyingan excellent hands-on experience with the equipment myself, I have begun to learna lot more about this amazing technology and its multitude of uses.
In the past, VFX artistswould often use a technique known as rotoscoping when looking to capture andanimate a subject, where an animator would then trace over live-action footagefor use in animated films, capturing realistic movements of actors. However, inmore recent decades, motion capture — or mocap as it is sometimes referred to —has become the answer to bringing life-like animation to our screens.
Mocap has now become a staple feature in the entertainment world. In simple terms, it is the process of using a series of cameras to capture and develop a 3D representation of a subject. The technology often comes in active and passive forms. Passive mocap is the most common and the most accurate, simply using reflective markers over the subject that are then picked up by a series of surrounding infrared cameras. Active mocap, on the other hand, uses LED markers, which are connected by wires. Often the individual being captured wears a suit, onto which markers are placed across most of the subject’s joints so the cameras can pick up movements, and then more are positioned asymmetrically across the individual’s body.
It is generally agreed that therevolutionary equipment was first made famous in 2003, with Andy Serkis’s memorableportrayal of Gollum in the Lord of the Rings. The film was able to bring anentirely computer-generated character to life for the first time, using the physicalexpressions and movements of an actor and adding visual effects. Now, it hasbecome a standard addition to many high-budget films such as Avatar, ReadyPlayer One and the Marvel series. The technology has proved hugely popular,granting a whole new level of realism to characters in films, video games andeven theatre, creating new levels of immersive experience for audiences.
Those with an interest in the videogames industry are already enjoying the incredible benefits of mocap within agame. Gone are the days of pixelated stick-figures; many titles now featureprominent actors, such as Willem Dafoe and Keanu Reeves. Simply animating avideo game character can only grant a certain level of realism. But with mocap,the movements are given a higher level of fluidity, much more akin to reallife. Considering the increasing demands on large gaming companies to producetitles with more immersion and realism, this technology has become invaluable.
Furthermore, the next stage in gaminghas arrived with the introduction of location-based VR (LBVR). LBVR has enablednew companies to create VR arcades, allowing groups of players to battle out inrealistic environments brought to life through VR headsets. LBVR is predictedto become a very popular form of entertainment, and as the technology improves,we can see larger groups of people engaging at the same time.
However, there is much more motioncapture, which is now being used in a number of new and innovative ways acrossa variety of sectors. When it comes to the development of robotics andautomation, tracking equipment can be used to produce accurate data byanalysing the movements of everything from buildings to drones. Mocap assistsin the development of automotive and aerospace innovations, being able toaccurately measure and test equipment. With robotics and drones, the sensorscan be used to help a machine successfully navigate around environments withoutcollisions — particularly useful as autonomous drones are set to become increasinglyintegrated into our lives with deliveries and logistics.
Mocap also has a number of creative applications for life sciences. Athletes and sporting bodies alike have a huge stake in its benefits for improving performance, preventing injuries and speeding up rehabilitation. Many of the largest sporting teams across the globe have incredible amounts of money invested in their players, so injuries must be rectified as soon as possible when they occur. Mocap has had a huge influence on the process, offering the ability to track athletes and offer precise data and visual evidence to assist in monitoring the movements of a subject. This can even extend to animals, for example, in assessing where a horse or dog could sustain an injury during a race and exploring how this can be avoided. The technology offers researchers in medical sciences greater insights too, for example, working with individuals suffering from movement impairing diseases by analysing the way they move and looking for ways to help.
These are just a few of the manyinnovative uses for motion capture equipment. As the technology advances anddevelops further, it is likely that we will see a number of new creativeapplications appear!