Detection of moving objects using self-motion constraints on optic flow.

ABSTRACT: As we move through the world, the pattern of light projected on our eyes is complex and dynamic, yet we are still able to distinguish between moving and stationary objects. We propose that humans accomplish this by exploiting constraints that self-motion imposes on retinal velocities. When an eye translates and rotates in a stationary 3D scene, the velocity at each retinal location is constrained to a line segment in the 2D space of retinal velocities. The slope and intercept of this segment is determined by the eye's translation and rotation, and the position along the segment is determined by local scene depth. Since all possible velocities arising from a stationary scene must lie on this segment, velocities that are not must correspond to objects moving within the scene. We hypothesize

SUBMITTER: Lutwak H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12133078 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature