NHK Develops Remote-controlled, Multi-view Camera System
Japan's public television broadcaster, NHK, has developed an array of video cameras that are synchronized to provide dynamic images of objects at different positions and in motion.
Multi-view imaging involves surrounding the objects (e.g. sports players) with a number
of cameras, which can provide a virtual all-round view of them at any point of time.
Existing systems have only been able to capture the objects from a limited number of
vantage points, owing to the fixed direction of the cameras. NHK, however, has come up
with a means of ensuring that all of the cameras are focusing on the same point,
by having eight cameras (for pans, tilt s and zooms) move in tandem with one main
camera. This enables the cameras to keep up with quickly moving players and provide
multi-view imaging of the decisive moments in a sporting event.
The multi-view camera system can provide a virtual all-round view of an object at any point of time. For instance, the figure below shows the system in use at a volleyball match. The cameras are all directed at the back of the player making a spike. The images from each camera can be quickly displayed in a sequence, providing viewers with dynamic, all-around images of the player.
The multi-view camera system can provide a virtual all-round view of an object at any point of time. For instance, the figure below shows the system in use at a volleyball match. The cameras are all directed at the back of the player making a spike. The images from each camera can be quickly displayed in a sequence, providing viewers with dynamic, all-around images of the player.