Autonomous Motion For Virtual Humans: Challenges And Possibilities

Michael Doherty, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA

Stevenson Hall 1300
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Creation of autonomous characters capable of human-like motion in virtual environments would appear to be achievable given available techniques in animation, artificial intelligence, and robotics. There are many examples of realistic motion in current applications, such as VR training simulations and video games. However, these current applications are limited in the sense that the range of possible behaviors is obviously restricted, resulting in strict limits on what the characters are capable of doing. In this talk, we'll examine the aspects of the problem that make arbitrary human-like motion difficult, and explore potential solutions that are currently being developed. From there we will attempt to extrapolate what will become possible as technology evolves and research continues.