Interdisciplinary collaboration advances equine motion capture research at Texas A&M
Researchers from across Texas A&M University recently brought equine science and advanced motion capture technology together at the Starlab on the Texas A&M-RELLIS campus.
The project brought together collaborators from the Department of Animal Science, Institute for Equine Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management and the Starlab team in the College of Engineering.
Jennifer Zoller, Ph.D., associate professor and equine specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, brought her horse, Trinket, to the motion capture session. Trinket will be used to help create realistic and accurate movement that can be used for animation, virtual/augmented reality, and motion models.
Motion capture technology advances equine research
Michael Walsh, director of the Starlab, led the motion capture work. Walsh previously worked on animation and visual effects for films including The Chronicles of Narnia, Beowulf and Avatar.
“This was the first time I’ve had the chance to bring a horse into my own lab and work through the full process from beginning to end,” Walsh shared in a LinkedIn post following the session.
Trinket was outfitted with multiple reflective mocap markers and placed on the motion capture stage. From there, 44 high-definition cameras in the Vicon system captured every step, tail flick, and whinny.
Collaboration creates future research opportunities
Walsh said the project could support future research involving animal locomotion, rider interaction and therapeutic applications. The collaboration highlights emerging opportunities for technology-driven research in animal and equine sciences.