Feature

Flipping human motion detection on its head

Automatic object detection is growing ever more sophisticated, yet the accurate detection of humans still poses unique challenges. Omron’s Gabriele Fulco explores what it is that makes humans so difficult to detect reliably and how successfully navigating these obstacles could usher in a new era of productivity.

05/02/2025 17:07:51

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Efforts to mimic human vision to identify objects are nothing new. The first digital image processing technologies were first developed in the 1960s, and have been constantly refined and improved ever since. Recent advances in AI have served to intensify these efforts further.

Achieving a computer-based vision system that can not just match but exceed the accuracy and understanding of human vision, combined with a human brain, has been notoriously difficult. Unlocking this technology could potentially herald a revolution in human progress, revolutionising everything from agriculture to medical science, as well as industrial operations.

The human body is the product of hundreds of thousands of years of evolution, and as such is incredibly sophisticated.

Computers have long been able to detect and understand 2D pictures, but dynamic three-dimensional environments are a step far beyond this. Indeed, human vision is not just about simply perceiving the world around us; it is also about understanding it.

Our brains are able constantly to provide vital contextual information to allow us to make sense of our surroundings in real time. Computers have traditionally been unable to match this level of sophistication – that is, until recently.

Read the full article in DPA's February 2025 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.