Advanced Biometric Security System Based on Recognition of 3D Infrared Facial Images Using Stereo Camera Technology

Kurzfassung

A Danish SME has developed an advanced 3D infrared facial recognition system based on stereo camera technology capable of extremely accurate identification and verification of individual persons using multiple biometric factors (3D facial geometry, skin texture analysis and temperature pattern). The company is searching for industrial partners with competences in the RFID and/or smart card industry as well as potential systems licensees or partners.

Details

A Danish company represents more than 100 years of domain expertise in image technology, recognition systems, artificial intelligence & biometrical analysis & has based on these competences developed a world-class biometric security system for face recognition.

A growing demand for biometric technologies for security, surveillance & identification purposes due to the worldwide increase in terrorism, fraud, identity theft & other crimes has resulted in strong interest in 3D face recognition now expected to become the global biometric de facto identification standard by both EU & US. While conventional 2D face recognition may be compared to the perception of depth a person experiences with one eye closed, the brain is able to calculate depth based on the difference between the two images received in the case of both eyes open. The same principle is used by the offered 3D technology for performing reliable verification/identification of a person without requiring exactly the same pose as with a conventional 2D system.

The offered system was developed specifically to perform fully automatic face recognition (verification/identification) using images from special facial scan equipment or images from existing 2D databases & is expected to outperform present 2D and 3D systems both regarding reliability, accuracy & speed. The system can be applied in both 1:1 or 1:N scenarios such as: Government building access control, border & airport control, law enforcement agencies & businesses concerned with security, identity theft & personal privacy. The 3D technology exploited may eventually be transferred to other business segments such as medical systems.

The offered system generates fully automatic 3D images of the human face using stereo cameras. Calibration modules & complex mathematical algorithms subsequently calculate the exact shape of the head with accuracy of less than 1 mm while a special synchronisation function ensures the images appear without blur despite any movements of the face.

The embedded software engine then generates a 3D model of the human head by matching similar regions, resulting in a 3D mesh. By measuring the exact locations of the points in the 3D mesh, numerical values uniquely identifying an individual - called the geometrical code of the face - are obtained simultaneously with the texture code (texture & colour).

A database is then used to compare the geometrical and texture codes of an unknown person under identification/verification with all persons already known to the system. The size of the unique geometrical & texture codes is approximately 1 - 2 Kbytes thus making chip cards an ideal way of storing a person's biometric data. From the unique code a 3D face may be reconstructed resembling the original real face so closely that competent human interaction while still possible will only be needed in case of doubt. From the generated 3D image (construction time less than 2 s) it is also possible to view the face from all possible angles.

In cases where the infrared (IR) option is also used, 3 images (2 ordinary stereo images & 1 IR image) are simultaneously recorded & used for calculating both a 3D image & a 3D IR image (this solution is patented). Using this method a personal temperature map/signature may be produced that in addition to increasing the accuracy of the recognition procedure per se to allow for fully automatic operation may also be used for detecting diseases such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) (e. g. in airports) thanks to the accuracy of the temperature measurements (0,008 deg. C).

The technology platform offered has been used by the company to develop the following versions of the system:

Floor model: Suitable for high-traffic-density areas such as airports allowing for identification/verification of persons in motion.

Wall model: Identification/verification of persons in motion in low-traffic-density environments such as buildings (voice activation optional).

Enrolment station: Used during the enrolment situation to generate 3D images of a seated person using a rotating chair for generating a 360 deg. image of the person.

Innovative Aspects:
The biometric system offered combines conventional geometric facial data with analysis of texture & temperature, thereby increasing reliability & accuracy of the recognition procedure while easing the task of the operator with comparison to competing 2D & 3D systems.

Advantages:
- Operates on both 2D & 3D images providing more biometric information.
- Requires only ambient light for identification/verification decision.
- Fully automatic.
- Hands-free operation.
- Records of unauthorised users.
- Continuous monitoring.
- Average search time 0.2 s in database containing 1 million records.
- Data output file 1 - 2 Kbytes; chip cards may store biometric data.
- User-friendly system interface.
- Identity theft prevented.
- Easy generation of biometric data.
- Low operating costs.
- Accuracy 99 %.