Efficient and Realistic Animatable Human Modeling from Monocular Video Using Gaussians-on-Mesh

Core Concepts

GoMAvatar, a novel approach for real-time, memory-efficient, high-quality animatable human modeling from a single monocular video, using a hybrid Gaussians-on-Mesh (GoM) representation.

Abstract

The paper introduces GoMAvatar, a novel approach for real-time, memory-efficient, high-quality animatable human modeling from a single monocular video. The key contribution is the Gaussians-on-Mesh (GoM) representation, which combines the rendering quality and speed of Gaussian splatting with the geometry modeling and compatibility of deformable meshes.
The GoM representation attaches Gaussian splats to a deformable mesh, allowing for efficient rendering and articulation. The authors also propose a unique differentiable shading module that splits the final color into a pseudo albedo map from Gaussian splatting and a pseudo shading map derived from the normal map.
Extensive experiments on the ZJU-MoCap, PeopleSnapshot, and YouTube datasets show that GoMAvatar matches or surpasses the rendering quality of state-of-the-art monocular human modeling algorithms, while significantly outperforming them in computational efficiency (43 FPS) and memory efficiency (3.63 MB per subject).

Stats

GoMAvatar reaches 30.37 dB PSNR in novel view synthesis and 30.31 dB PSNR in novel pose synthesis.
GoMAvatar achieves a rendering speed of 43 FPS on an NVIDIA A100 GPU.
GoMAvatar is memory-efficient, only costing 3.63 MB per subject.

Quotes

"GoMAvatar takes as input a single monocular video to create a digital avatar capable of re-articulation in new poses and real-time rendering from novel viewpoints, while seamlessly integrating with rasterization-based graphics pipelines."
"Central to our method is the Gaussians-on-Mesh (GoM) representation, a hybrid 3D model combining rendering quality and speed of Gaussian splatting with geometry modeling and compatibility of deformable meshes."

Key Insights Distilled From

GoMAvatar

by Jing Wen,Xia... at arxiv.org 04-12-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2404.07991.pdf

Deeper Inquiries

How can the Gaussians-on-Mesh representation be further extended to handle more complex human motions and interactions, such as clothing deformation or multi-person scenes

The Gaussians-on-Mesh representation can be extended to handle more complex human motions and interactions by incorporating additional features and mechanisms. For clothing deformation, the representation can be enhanced by introducing cloth-specific parameters and constraints that allow for realistic cloth simulation and movement. This could involve modeling the cloth as a separate layer with its own set of Gaussians-on-Mesh representations that interact with the underlying human model. Additionally, incorporating physics-based simulations for cloth dynamics could further improve the realism of the representation.
In the case of multi-person scenes, the representation can be extended to support multiple articulated figures within the same environment. This could involve developing a mechanism for handling interactions between different individuals, such as collision detection and avoidance, joint constraints, and coordinated movements. By incorporating multi-person interaction capabilities, the Gaussians-on-Mesh representation can accurately capture complex scenarios involving multiple human subjects.

What are the potential limitations of the current approach, and how could it be improved to handle more challenging scenarios, such as occlusions or extreme poses

One potential limitation of the current approach is its ability to handle occlusions and extreme poses. Occlusions, where parts of the body are obstructed from view, can pose challenges for the rendering process and may result in inaccuracies in the final output. To address this limitation, the approach could be improved by incorporating occlusion handling mechanisms, such as predictive modeling based on context and scene understanding, to infer the occluded parts and generate more accurate renderings.
Extreme poses, such as contorted body positions or highly dynamic movements, can also be challenging for the current representation to accurately capture. To improve performance in handling extreme poses, the approach could benefit from enhanced pose estimation algorithms that can accurately predict and model complex body configurations. Additionally, incorporating data augmentation techniques and training on a diverse range of extreme poses can help improve the model's robustness and generalization capabilities.

Given the efficient and compact nature of the GoMAvatar representation, how could it be leveraged in other applications beyond human modeling, such as virtual avatars or digital twins

The efficient and compact nature of the GoMAvatar representation makes it well-suited for a variety of applications beyond human modeling. One potential application is in the creation of virtual avatars for use in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) environments. By leveraging the real-time rendering capabilities of GoMAvatar, virtual avatars can be dynamically articulated and rendered with high fidelity, enhancing the immersive experience for users.
Another application could be in the development of digital twins for various industries, such as manufacturing, healthcare, and entertainment. Digital twins are virtual representations of physical objects or systems that can be used for simulation, monitoring, and analysis. By utilizing the compact and memory-efficient nature of the GoMAvatar representation, digital twins can be created and manipulated in real-time, allowing for accurate simulations and predictive modeling in diverse domains.
Furthermore, GoMAvatar could be applied in the field of computer-generated imagery (CGI) for film and animation production. The efficient rendering and articulation capabilities of the representation make it ideal for creating lifelike and animatable characters in CGI scenes, reducing production time and costs while maintaining high-quality visuals. By integrating GoMAvatar into CGI pipelines, filmmakers and animators can streamline the character creation process and achieve realistic results in their projects.