Horseback riding simulator and method for horseback riding simulation

Abstract

Disclosed is a horseback riding simulator configured to operate in an adaptive manner with respect to a user and a method using the same, the horseback riding simulator including a user identification unit to identify a user through user identification information based on user facial information extracted from an input image, a posture recognition unit to calculate user posture information by extracting information related to each of designated body parts of the user from the input image, a coaching unit to provide the user with instruction in horseback riding posture, based on the user identification information and the user posture information, and a sensory realization unit to control a horseback riding mechanism based on a user-intended posture calculated through analysis of the user posture information. Accordingly, user-customized horseback riding instruction is provided through identification of a user and recognition of a user's horseback riding posture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A horseback riding simulator comprising:
 a user identification unit configured to identify a user through user identification information based on user facial information that is extracted from an input image;   a posture recognition unit configured to calculate user posture information by extracting information related to each of designated body parts of the user from the input image; and   a coaching unit configured to provide the user with instruction in horseback riding posture, based on the user identification information and the user posture information.   
     
     
         2 . The horseback riding simulator of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensory realization unit configured to control a horseback riding mechanism based on a user-intended posture that is calculated through analysis of the user posture information. 
     
     
         3 . The horseback riding simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the user identification unit comprises:
 a face detection unit configured to extract a facial region of a rectangular shape by recognizing a front of a user's face from the input image; and   a facial feature extraction unit configured to extract a facial feature point based on a contour of the user's face located in the facial region, and to calculate the user identification information using a facial feature vector that is based on directivity characteristics and histogram distribution characteristics of pixels distributed in a local area that is set in advance on the basis of the facial feature point.   
     
     
         4 . The horseback riding simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the posture recognition unit comprises:
 a user region extraction unit configured to extract a user region from the input image; and   a posture information calculation unit configured to divide the user region and calculate the user posture information, which includes information about a position, an angle and a movement of each of the designated body parts of the user, by use of profile information relative to the front of the user's face.   
     
     
         5 . The horseback riding simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the coaching unit comprises:
 a movement data storage unit configured to store a user movement model including the user identification information and the user posture information;   a model matching unit configured to calculate a posture error by matching the user movement model to a standard movement model; and   a horseback riding instruction unit configured to provide the user with instruction in horseback riding posture through speech or images, based on the posture error.   
     
     
         6 . The horseback riding simulator of  claim 5 , wherein the standard movement model includes information related to a standard horseback riding posture according to a gait mode of a horseback riding mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The horseback riding simulator of  claim 5 , wherein the horseback riding instruction unit is configured to provide the user with a warning message if the posture error is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         8 . The horseback riding simulator of  claim 2 , wherein the sensory realization unit comprises:
 an intended posture calculation unit configured to calculate the user-intended posture by analyzing a gait pattern based on the user posture information; and   a mechanism control unit configured to control the horseback riding mechanism according to a gait mode including a walk, a canter and a trot while corresponding to the user intended posture.   
     
     
         9 . A method for horseback riding simulation using a horseback riding simulator, the method comprising:
 identifying a user through user identification information based on user facial information that is extracted from an input image;   calculating user posture information by extracting information related to each of designated body parts of the user from the input image; and   providing the user with instruction in horseback riding posture, based on the user identification information and the user posture information.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising controlling a horseback riding mechanism according to a gait mode corresponding to a user-intended posture that is calculated through analysis of the user posture information. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the identifying of the user comprises:
 extracting a facial region of a rectangular shape by recognizing a front of a user's face from the input image; and   extracting a facial feature point based on a contour of the user's face located in the facial region, and calculating the user identification information by use of a facial feature vector that is based on directivity characteristics and histogram distribution characteristics of pixels distributed in a local area that is set in advance on the basis of the facial feature point.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the calculating of the user posture information comprises:
 extracting a user region from the input image; and   dividing the user region and calculating the user posture information, which includes information about a position, an angle and a movement of each of the designated body parts of the user, by use of profile information relative to the front of the user's face.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the providing of instruction in horseback riding posture to the user comprises:
 acquiring a user movement model including the user identification information and the user posture information, and calculating a posture error by matching the user movement model to a standard movement model; and   providing the user with instruction in horseback riding posture through speech or images, based on the posture error.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein in the providing of instruction in horseback riding posture to the user, a warning message is provided to the user if the posture error is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.