composing behaviors and swapping bodies with motion capture data in x3d
This paper describes current work in the evolution of open standards for 3D graphics for Humanoid Animation (H-Anim). It builds on previous work to encompass plausible humanoids, humanoid behaviors and methodologies for composition with interchangeable and blended behaviors. We present an overview of the standardization activities for H-Anim, including a proposed extension for the H-Anim Specification which allows for interchangeable actors and dynamic behaviors. We demonstrate a standards-based approach to the complex work flow and data extraction for 3D optical motion tracking systems. We describe how to archive, annotate and transform the whole body and segmented performance data so that they can be used more widely and with less effort. The approach is compressible, streamable, scaleable, repeatable and suitable for large-scale training and analysis, entertainment and games. Often, X3D and VRML simulations lack the realistic representation of humans. They lack the direct flexibility of control required to build small, but meaningful, task-oriented training scenarios like deploying force protection assets in a busy commercial port. While high-value assets, defensive and offensive agents can be easily and realistically modeled using discreet event simulations, that realism is diminished by the lack of humanoid representations. The visualization is not as engaging and the training not as immersive. Including a rich set of characters with composable and swappable behaviors demonstrating intent of the agent entity heightens both the sense of realism and immersion. Deriving these behaviors is difficult and translating the data into custom applications is craftwork. We propose a standard, archival data format so that captured behaviors can be repurposed and reused, following the SAVAGE approach. This data format will include behavior information and skeletal information such that they can be retargeted and repurposed with a minimum of effort.
humanoid animation (h-anim) motion capture data transformation