Vision-Based Wayfinding Simulation of Digital Human Model in Three Dimensional as-is Environment Models and its Application to Accessibility Evaluation

Author(s):  
Tsubasa Maruyama ◽  
Satoshi Kanai ◽  
Hiroaki Date

Elderly and disabled individuals must be able to access the indoor and outdoor environment in an easy and safe manner. Accessibility must be assessed not only in terms of physical friendliness for users, but also of cognitive friendliness such as the ease of wayfinding. To ensure the ease of wayfinding, signage information available at every key decision point is essential because it enables people to find their way in unfamiliar environment. The aim of the present study is to develop virtual accessibility evaluation system that evaluates the environment accessibility from the cognitive friendliness aspect, such as the ease of wayfinding, by combining realistic human behavior simulation using a digital human model (DHM) with as-is environment models. To realize this system, we develop a vision-based wayfinding simulation algorithm for the DHM in textured three-dimensional (3D) as-is environment models. The as-is environment models are constructed with the structure-from-motion (SfM) technique. During the wayfinding simulation, the visibility and legibility of each sign are evaluated on the basis of the visual perception of the DHM and its visibility catchment area (VCA). The DHM walking trajectory is dynamically generated depending on the perceived sign. When a disorientation place is detected where the DHM cannot find any sign indicating its destination, plans for rearranging the signs are proposed by the simulation user and then examined using a developed virtual eyesight simulator (VES). The VES enables the user to check the DHM eyesight virtually during the wayfinding simulation through a head-mounted display. To mimic visual impairments, visual impairment filters are introduced into the VES. In this paper, we demonstrate the process of detecting the disorientation place, and planning and evaluating the rearranged signage.

Author(s):  
Takao Kakizaki ◽  
Mai Endo ◽  
Jiro Urii ◽  
Mitsuru Endo

The importance of physiotherapy is becoming more significant with the increasing number of countries with aging populations. Thus, the education of physiotherapists is a crucial concern in many countries. Information and communications technologies, such as motion capture systems, have been introduced to sophisticate the training methods used in physiotherapy. However, the methods employed in most training schools for physiotherapists and occupational therapists remain dependent on more conventional materials. These materials include conventional textbooks with samples of traditional gait motion photographs and video archives of patients' walking motion. Actual on-site clinical training is also utilized in current physiotherapy education programs. The present paper addresses an application of a previously developed digital human model called the kinematic digital human (KDH) to physiotherapy education with a focus on improving students' understanding of the gait motion of disabled patients. KDH models for use in physiotherapy were constructed based on Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center (RLANRC) terminology, which is considered the preferred standard among clinicians. The developed KDH models were employed to allow the three-dimensional visualization of the gait motion of a hemiplegic patient.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsubasa Maruyama ◽  
Satoshi Kanai ◽  
Hiroaki Date ◽  
Mitsunori Tada

Abstract Owing to our rapidly aging society, accessibility evaluation to enhance the ease and safety of access to indoor and outdoor environments for the elderly and disabled is increasing in importance. Accessibility must be assessed not only from the general standard aspect but also in terms of physical and cognitive friendliness for users of different ages, genders, and abilities. Meanwhile, human behavior simulation has been progressing in the areas of crowd behavior analysis and emergency evacuation planning. However, in human behavior simulation, environment models represent only “as-planned” situations. In addition, a pedestrian model cannot generate the detailed articulated movements of various people of different ages and genders in the simulation. Therefore, the final goal of this research was to develop a virtual accessibility evaluation by combining realistic human behavior simulation using a digital human model (DHM) with “as-is” environment models. To achieve this goal, we developed an algorithm for generating human-like DHM walking motions, adapting its strides, turning angles, and footprints to laser-scanned 3D as-is environments including slopes and stairs. The DHM motion was generated based only on a motion-capture (MoCap) data for flat walking. Our implementation constructed as-is 3D environment models from laser-scanned point clouds of real environments and enabled a DHM to walk autonomously in various environment models. The difference in joint angles between the DHM and MoCap data was evaluated. Demonstrations of our environment modeling and walking simulation in indoor and outdoor environments including corridors, slopes, and stairs are illustrated in this study. Highlights An adaptive walking simulation algorithm of the digital human was developed. The environment models are automatically generated from laser-scanned point clouds. A digital human can walk autonomously in various as-built environment models. Simulated walking motion of the digital human is similar to one of real human. Elapsed time of modeling and simulation is short enough for practical application.


Author(s):  
Takao Kakizaki ◽  
Jiro Urii ◽  
Mitsuru Endo

The importance of physiotherapy is becoming more significant with the increasing number of countries with aging populations. Thus, the education of physiotherapists is a crucial concern in many countries. Information and communications technologies, such as motion capture systems, have been introduced to sophisticate the training methods used in physiotherapy. However, the methods employed in most training schools for physiotherapists and occupational therapists remain dependent on more conventional materials. These materials include conventional textbooks with samples of traditional gait motion photographs and video archives of patients’ walking motion. Actual on-site clinical training is also utilized in current physiotherapy education programs. The present paper addresses an application of previously developed digital human model called kinematic digital human (KDH) to physiotherapy education with a focus on improving students’ understanding of the gait motion of disabled patients. KDH models for use in physiotherapy were constructed based on Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center terminology, which is considered the preferred standard among clinicians. The developed KDH models were employed to allow the three-dimensional visualization of the gait motion of a hemiplegic patient.


2014 ◽  
Vol 592-594 ◽  
pp. 2659-2664 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Jeyakumar ◽  
R. Gandhinathan

India is the second largest 2W market in the world in terms of sales volumes after China. Motorcycles types that are marketed using sports tag are found to be anchored on performance attributes characterized by visual appeal, higher speeds, heady acceleration and superior ride, handling and braking. The chronograph of the sports segment in the Indian market is plotted. A goal defined design process is developed to produce creative ideas for aesthetic attributes-modern, youthful, aerodynamic, and aggressive. The optimal solution satisfying the aesthetic goal is determined using an operation decision making model based upon weighted generalized mean method. A motorcycle is generally straddled by the rider with manual transmission and can be considered as a constrained workstation. Some ergonomic considerations to fit users of different sizes on the same workstation should be taken into account when designing. A two-dimensional anthropometric data collection approach is followed for riders in India. The obtained anthropometric data concerning riding postures are used for posture analysis using digital human model in CAD software. The mutual trade-off between sporty riding style of the rider and comfort angles have been arrived to set up the final posture of the rider. The detailing of the appearance considering the aesthetic attributes and ergonomics are done. The developed design is aimed at improving appearance and ergonomic performance.


Author(s):  
Yujiang Xiang ◽  
Jasbir S. Arora ◽  
Salam Rahmatalla ◽  
Hyun-Joon Chung ◽  
Rajan Bhatt ◽  
...  

Human carrying is simulated in this work by using a skeletal digital human model with 55 degrees of freedom (DOFs). Predictive dynamics approach is used to predict the carrying motion with symmetric and asymmetric loads. In this process, the model predicts joints dynamics using optimization schemes and task-based physical constraints. The results indicated that the model can realistically match human motion and ground reaction forces data during symmetric and asymmetric load carrying task. With such prediction capability the model could be used for biomedical and ergonomic studies.


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