An improved video-based computer tracking systems for soft biomaterials testing

An improved video-based computer system is presented for online tracking of small markers moving in a plane. The system consists of a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, a video monitor, a dedicated 80386/20 microcomputer, a video frame grabber, and custom software. Up to four markers can be tracked at the 30-Hz video frame rate using a two-step, correlation based search procedure. The requisite hardware and software requirements are discussed, and how this tracking system can be used to collect strain data during biaxial stretching tests on planar soft tissues is shown. Operating at 30 Hz, this system is an improvement over those previously reported, which either are slower or yield less information.<
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