Humans make decisions about their actions in certain situations based on their knowledge of motion sequences or the interaction of people with each other. They derive decisions for collision avoidance, danger prevention or emergency scenarios. Technical assistance systems can only make such decisions inadequately autonomously due to a lack of spatial sensors and algorithms for processing them.

The goal of the EMMA project is to gain this knowledge with the help of optical 3D methods. Within the scope of the project, 3D methods for capturing movements and the interaction of people in selected living and working environments will be analyzed, developed and evaluated. For this purpose, new methods are developed based on known motion tracking methods, which use multi-camera systems (e.g. panorama or fisheye cameras) to capture people, objects (tools) and environments. Changes and movements are measured so that intelligent decisions for collision avoidance, hazard prevention or emergency scenarios can be derived.
Within OFFIS, the project has the key function to establish new technology fields in OFFIS. The methods to be developed combine aspects of sensor technology, image processing, 3D modeling, kinematics, data modeling and software development. They can be used in various areas, e.g. in the analysis of motion sequences in medical operating rooms, for monitoring people in need of assistance in their natural living situations or for controlling autonomous systems, e.g. mobile robots or flying robots.

The project will be carried out between 12/2010 and 11/2013 at OFFIS Health. It is funded by the MWK.