The development of a low-cost robotic visual tracking system : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, Mechatronics at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Abstract

This thesis describes a system which is able to track and imitate human motion. The system is divided into two major parts: computer vision system and robot arm motion control system. Through the use of two real-time video cameras, computer vision system identifies the moving object depending on the colour features, as the object colour is matched within the colour range in the current image frame, a method that employs two vectors is used to calculate the coordinates of the object. After the object is detected and tracked coordinates are saved to a pre-establish database in the purpose of further data processing, a mathematical algorithm is performed to the data in order to give a better robotic motion control. Robot arm manipulator responds with a move within its workspace which corresponds to a consequential human-type motion. Experimental outcomes have shown that the system is reliable and can successfully imitate a human hand motion in most cases.