Viewing Myself in 3rd Person

Step 12 Future Work & Ideas

3D Cameras
We'd really like the use a 3d camera. This will either require a 3d camera setup, or an additional camera and a way to interlace the two views as this is the format most 3d capable googles read the video in. Otherwise, if we can find some video goggles that can take in two video sources, that would be easiest.

Remote Control People
The original purpose of the radio transmitter was for another idea which hasn't been implemented yet. A human subject would wear the 3rd person camera and no goggles with their eyes covered. The video signal is transmitted to the controller. Using remote controls or some other signal, the subject would move according to the controllers wishes, much like a video game. 

Move the 3rd person camera back
The 3rd person view we used was pretty close. It was challenging not being able to see your feet. Also, in a lot of 3rd person video games, you can see the entire character. This is difficult to do using our method as it will require a long extension rod. Also, you will be able to see the camera mount in the camera. We are experimenting with some ideas around this such as using a balloon.

Camera Movement
It would be interesting to be able to match up the camera movements with the motion of your head. this was one odd part in using the pure 3rd person view. In order to look around you had to move your whole body. this felt unnatural. Using a gyro and a camera pan-tilt servo mount would allow us to have the 3rd person view which would move with your body and head. This would most likely increase the immersion as it is closer to reality.

Live video switching
And as I mentioned before. We are in the process of adding a video switch for the multi-view case allowing us to switch between views on the fly.

Upgrade our workshop
While we can make do with what we have, we could definitely get some new tools. Some things we have in mind are the following:

Craftsman 10'' Bench Drill Press with Laser Trac
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_00921900000P
Drilling through PVC with a hand drill and a vice isn't the most ideal...

Craftsman PVC Cutter
http://tinyurl.com/2dprqcu
Well, with all the PVC cutting this would have helped just a bit. 

If you have any other ideas, We'd love to hear them!

Comments

[uncaff]

What would make an ideal presentation of the whole experience IMO would be the
video of you walking around and a P in P of what you yourself are seeing at
the same time.

Meanwhile, congrats for a thoroughly entertaining instructable.

Love this website.

[ylbissop]

great instructable.
recently saw one of these at an airport and it seems to fit nicely with what you want to do
http://ardrone.parrot.com

its software is open source (GNU)
head tracking was accomplished here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyX8WnO2ml8
with a little coding perhaps some extra cameras and some http://www.vuzix.com goggles
you could have the third person view of your dreams

maby you could try using galvanic vestibular stimulation to control the person.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf0E9llkZIU

[ampeyro]

what is next?
a thermal visor, a gun mounted camera...?
the technology is the same and if you play paintball can be great

[Dead-Portalist]

I have a good idea to keep the camera steady, but if you use the specific system in the video, it turns out to be quite expensive. I'm sure it could be made at home for much cheaper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hruUznd5wU4

It uses balanced forces to keep the camera in its own spot. Hope this becomes of use! Great job on the project. It's coming along nicely, I see.

[Airazz]

Simple head tracker and two servos would solve the camera movement part. Check out RC plane FPV forums about in-flight videos. They use such system.

[Mike44]

Yes, I second the comment above! Would love to see the 3rd person view video too! This is an awesome idea!

For camera stabilization, I'm not sure how fancy you want to get, but I had an idea... Using gyro stabilization would be ideal for a pole mount camera off your back. That way, no matter how much movement the user makes, the camera would remain relatively stable and pointing along a specified plane (depending on how it's programmed).

Btw, that's a sweet vest! Is it paintball gear? I like it! :)

[BigRedRocket]

I got the vest here:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/VEST165-1.html

It is a normal gun vest, but I use it for paintball. It is tough and it fits the paintball tubes in the magazine holders.

[gearheadgrizzly]

Guys, first of all, amazing proyect and thanks for the instructable!, only a small comment, your audience (specially me) would love to see the walker`s perspective video, have you pubblished one?

Thanks for the tour and keep up with the experiment, you`re on to something most gamers would love...

[BigRedRocket]

I posted a video in the comments showing the camera view along with the paintball marker cam. They are a bit out of sync (post processing issues) but you get the idea. We'll be adding more video's later.