3-D face recognition method based on optimum 3-D image measurement technology

• Published in: Artificial life and robotics Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 551 - 554
• Main Authors: Kamitomo, Hiroya, Lu, Cunwei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer Japan 01.02.2012
• Subjects: Algorithms; Artificial Intelligence; Color; Computation by Abstract Devices; Computer Science; Control; Cosmetics; Face recognition; Facial; Lighting; Mechatronics; Original Article; Robotics; Three dimensional; 3-D shape measurement; 3-D image; Face recognition; Iterative closest point
• ISSN: 1433-5298; 1614-7456
• DOI: 10.1007/s10015-011-0982-0

Most face recognition systems employ 2-D color or gray-scale images. However, face recognition based on 2-D images is adversely affected by 3-D movement, variable lighting, and the use of cosmetics. 3-D image measurement technology has the potential to overcome these limitations of face recognition based on 2-D images since it can perform geometric analysis. We propose a method that is capable of recognizing a person from a 3-D facial image obtained using a 3-D shape measurement system by employing a technique that optimizes the intensity-modulation pattern projection. This face recognition method is based on the iterative closest point algorithm. It is robust to changes in reflectivity and color. Since the 3-D facial information can be registered, this method can estimate rotations and translations to compensate for different positions or directions. In order to prove the validity of the proposed technique, a verification experiment was conducted which used 105 sample 3-D images obtained from 15 subjects. It achieved a detection rate of 96% when heads were turned at an angle of 20° or less relative to the camera.