SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
Department: Industrial & Engineering Technology
Title of Course: Motion Capture Technology
Course No.: GM580
Revision: New
I. Catalog Description and Credit Hours of Course: Motion capture and key frame
technology for developing applications including gaming. Other topics include software
workflow, forward and inverse kinematic rigging, advanced blend shapes, skinning and
modeling surface deformations. (3 credit hours: 2 hours lecture and 2 hours lab)
II. Prerequisite(s): GM525
III. Objectives of the Course:
1. Setup a laboratory using acoustic, magnetic, and/or optical sensor technology for
accelerated physical motion tracing.
2. Understand and create real-time acquisition and troubleshooting.
3. Develop and refine motion capture clean up processes using key frame technology.
4. Implement the use of virtual skeletons to rig a biped or quadruped.
5. Create skinned and surface models in hyper realistic concepts.
6. Apply post-processed data and develop application using various game engines.
7. Develop and manage basic project documentation.
IV. Expectations of Students:
1. Complete all assignments on time. Late work will not be accepted under any
circumstances unless excused by university policies. Arrangements should be made
to turn work in early.
2. Use professionalism when dealing with faculty, staff and students.
3. Students are expected to conduct necessary research to fulfill classroom
assignments.
4. Class attendance and participation are strongly encouraged.
5. Take notes from textbook, and lecture discussions.
6. Pass tests, conduct research, read assigned materials for discussion and application.
V. Course Content
Topics
Motion Tracking & Laboratory Setup
Automated Motion Capture & Recording
Spline Techniques for Motion Capture Cleanup
Keyframe Technology
Advanced Rigging
Generating Surface Dynamics and Skinning Weights
Motion Capture, Game Engines, and Gaming Applications
VI. Textbook(s) and/or Other Required Materials or Equipment:
1. The Art of Rigging ; ISBN: 0-9768003-0-6
2. 4 GB or above thumb drive. (external HD preferred >500GB)
Weeks
1
1
2
2
2
2
5
VII. Basis for Student Evaluation
Undergraduate Students
Assignment Description
Percentage of Grade
System Setup
10%
Skinning and Muscle Systems Test 1
20%
Motion Capture and Keyframe Test 2
20%
Application Project
40%
Project Presentation
10%
Graduate Students
Assignment Description
Percentage of Grade
System Setup
10%
Skinning and Muscle Systems Test 1
20%
Motion Capture and Keyframe Test 2
20%
Application Project
30%
Project Presentation
10%
Research Paper
10%
The weight of the evaluation criteria may vary according to each instructor and will be
communicated at the beginning of the course.
VIII. Grading Scale:
Undergraduate:
A = 100 – 90%
B = 89 – 80%
C = 79 – 70%
D = 69 – 60%
F = Below 60%
Graduate:
A = 100 – 90%
B = 89 – 80%
C = 79 – 70%
F = Below 70%
IX.
Academic Policy Statement:
Students will be expected to abide by the University Policy for Academic Honesty
regarding plagiarism and academic honesty. Refer
to:http://www6.semo.edu/judaffairs/code.html
X.
Student with Disabilities Statement:
If a student has a special need addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
and requires materials in an alternative format, please notify the instructor at the
beginning of the course. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate special needs.