Body Labs

Last updated
Body Labs
Type Subsidiary
Industry Artificial intelligence
Founded2013;10 years ago (2013)
Founders Michael J. Black
William J. O'Farrell
Eric Rachlin
Alex Weiss
Headquarters Manhattan, New York
Parent Amazon.com

Body Labs is a Manhattan-based software company founded in 2013. Body Labs is a software provider of human-aware artificial intelligence that understands the 3D body shape and motion of people from RGB photos or videos. [1]

Contents

In October 2017, the company was acquired by Amazon. [2]

History

Body Labs was founded by Michael J. Black, William J. O'Farrell, Eric Rachlin, and Alex Weiss who were connected at Brown University and Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems. [3]

In 2002, Black was researching how to create a statistical model of the human body. While Black was teaching a course on computer vision at Brown University, the Virginia State Police contacted him about a robbery and murder at a 7-Eleven. The police wanted to use computer vision to identify the suspect in a surveillance video. By creating a statistical model, Black's group could vindicate some of the evidence in the case like confirming the suspect's height. [4]

On November 13, 2014, Body Labs announced $2.2 million in Seed funding led by FirstMark Capital, with additional investors including New York Angels and existing investors. [5]

On November 3, 2015, Body Labs announced $11 million in Series A funding led by Intel Capital, with additional investors including FirstMark Capital, Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH, Osage University Partners, Catalus Capital and the company founders. [6]

Products

BodyKit

On March 3, 2015, Body Labs launched BodyKit, a collection of API’s and embeddable components for integrating the human body into apps and tools. [7] [8]

Body Labs Blue

On July 20, 2016, Body Labs launched Body Labs Blue, an API and embeddable Web interface that takes physical measurements and predicts additional digital measurements to help with custom clothing creation. [9] [10]

Body Labs Red

On October 5, 2016, Body Labs launched Body Labs Red, an API for automatically processing 3D scans into a full 3D body model. Additionally, Body Labs announced a partnership with 3dMD to process their 3D scans. [11] [12]

Mosh Mobile App

On Feb. 15, 2017, Body Labs released Mosh on the App Store, an Apple iOS app, the predicts the 3D human pose and shape of a subject and renders 3D effects on them. [13] [14]

SOMA: Human-Aware AI

On June 1, 2017, Body Labs launched SOMA, software that uses artificial intelligence to predict 3D human shape and motion from RGB photos or video. [15] [16]

On July 21, 2017, Body Labs launched SOMA Shape API for 3D model and Measurement Prediction. Shape API allows third party apps to easily connect to the SOMA backend. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Image scanner</span> Device that optically scans images, printed text

An image scanner—often abbreviated to just scanner—is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting or an object and converts it to a digital image. Commonly used in offices are variations of the desktop flatbed scanner where the document is placed on a glass window for scanning. Hand-held scanners, where the device is moved by hand, have evolved from text scanning "wands" to 3D scanners used for industrial design, reverse engineering, test and measurement, orthotics, gaming and other applications. Mechanically driven scanners that move the document are typically used for large-format documents, where a flatbed design would be impractical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthropometry</span> Measurement of the human individual

Anthropometry refers to the measurement of the human individual. An early tool of physical anthropology, it has been used for identification, for the purposes of understanding human physical variation, in paleoanthropology and in various attempts to correlate physical with racial and psychological traits. Anthropometry involves the systematic measurement of the physical properties of the human body, primarily dimensional descriptors of body size and shape. Since commonly used methods and approaches in analysing living standards were not helpful enough, the anthropometric history became very useful for historians in answering questions that interested them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waist</span> Part of the abdomen between the rib cage and hips

The waist is the part of the abdomen between the rib cage and hips. On people with slim bodies, the waist is the narrowest part of the torso.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gesture recognition</span> Topic in computer science and language technology

Gesture recognition is an area of research and development in computer science and language technology concerned with the recognition and interpretation of human gestures. A subdiscipline of computer vision, it employs mathematical algorithms to interpret gestures. Gestures can originate from any bodily motion or state, but commonly originate from the face or hand. One area of the field is emotion recognition derived from facial expressions and hand gestures. Users can make simple gestures to control or interact with devices without physically touching them. Many approaches have been made using cameras and computer vision algorithms to interpret sign language, however, the identification and recognition of posture, gait, proxemics, and human behaviors is also the subject of gesture recognition techniques. Gesture recognition is a path for computers to begin to better understand and interpret human body language, previously not possible through text or unenhanced graphical (GUI) user interfaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3D scanning</span> Scanning of an object or environment to collect data on its shape

3D scanning is the process of analyzing a real-world object or environment to collect three dimensional data of its shape and possibly its appearance. The collected data can then be used to construct digital 3D models.

Articulated body pose estimation in computer vision is the study of algorithms and systems that recover the pose of an articulated body, which consists of joints and rigid parts using image-based observations. It is one of the longest-lasting problems in computer vision because of the complexity of the models that relate observation with pose, and because of the variety of situations in which it would be useful.

Cimatron is an Israeli software company that produces CAD/CAM software for manufacturing, toolmaking and CNC programming applications.

Clothing technology involves the manufacturing, materials - innovations that have been developed and used. The timeline of clothing and textiles technology includes major changes in the manufacture and distribution of clothing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virtual dressing room</span>

A virtual dressing room is the online equivalent of an in-store changing room.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3D modeling</span> Form of computer-aided engineering

In 3D computer graphics, 3D modeling is the process of developing a mathematical coordinate-based representation of a surface of an object in three dimensions via specialized software by manipulating edges, vertices, and polygons in a simulated 3D space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tango (platform)</span> Mobile computer vision platform for Android developed by Google

Tango was an augmented reality computing platform, developed and authored by the Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP), a skunkworks division of Google. It used computer vision to enable mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to detect their position relative to the world around them without using GPS or other external signals. This allowed application developers to create user experiences that include indoor navigation, 3D mapping, physical space measurement, environmental recognition, augmented reality, and windows into a virtual world.

Threeding is an online 3D printing marketplace and community for exchange and sale of designs and templates to assist in 3D printing. The website provides users with personal storefronts where they can list and sell 3D-printable models to a global audience. Threeding is one of several 3D file repositories that have emerged in the fast-growing 3D printing industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AstroPrint</span>

AstroPrint is a cloud platform and application marketplace designed for consumer 3D printing by 3DaGoGo Inc., a private San Diego-based technology company.

Artec 3D is a developer and manufacturer of 3D scanning hardware and software. The company is headquartered in Luxembourg, with offices also in the United States, China (Shanghai) and Montenegro (Bar). Artec 3D's products and services are used in various industries, including engineering, healthcare, media and design, entertainment, education, fashion and historic preservation. In 2013, Artec 3D launched an automated full-body 3D scanning system, Shapify.me, that creates 3D portraits called “Shapies.”

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cura (software)</span> 3D printer software

Cura is an open source slicing application for 3D printers. It was created by David Braam who was later employed by Ultimaker, a 3D printer manufacturing company, to maintain the software. Cura is available under LGPLv3 license. Cura was initially released under the open source Affero General Public License version 3, but on 28 September 2017 the license was changed to LGPLv3. This change allowed for more integration with third-party CAD applications. Development is hosted on GitHub. Ultimaker Cura is used by over one million users worldwide and handles 1.4 million print jobs per week. It is the preferred 3D printing software for Ultimaker 3D printers, but it can be used with other printers as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3D body scanning</span> Application of various technologies

3D body scanning is an application of various technologies such as Structured-light 3D scanner, 3D depth sensing, stereoscopic vision and others for ergonomic and anthropometric investigation of the human form as a point-cloud. The technology and practice within research has found 3D body scanning measurement extraction methodologies to be comparable to traditional anthropometric measurement techniques.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3D selfie</span>

A 3D selfie is a 3D-printed scale replica of a person or their face. These three-dimensional selfies are also known as 3D portraits, 3D figurines, 3D-printed figurines, mini-me figurines and miniature statues. In 2014 a first 3D printed bust of a President, Barack Obama, was made. 3D-digital-imaging specialists used handheld 3D scanners to create an accurate representation of the President.

Foursquare Labs Inc., commonly known as Foursquare, is a geolocation technology company and data cloud platform based in the United States. Founded by Dennis Crowley and Naveen Selvadurai in 2009, the company rose to prominence with the launch of its local search-and-discovery mobile app. The app, Foursquare City Guide, popularized the concept of real-time location sharing and checking-in.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael J. Black</span> American-born computer scientist

Michael J. Black is an American-born computer scientist working in Tübingen, Germany. He is a founding director at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems where he leads the Perceiving Systems Department in research focused on computer vision, machine learning, and computer graphics. He is also an Honorary Professor at the University of Tübingen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qlone</span> 3D scanning app

Qlone is a 3D scanning app based on photogrammetry for creation of 3D models on mobile devices. The resultant 3D models can be exported for external use.

References

  1. "Body Labs Launches SOMA, the first 'Human-Aware' AI Platform for Predicting 3D Human Shape and Motion from Photos or Video - Body Labs" . Retrieved 2017-06-01.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. Lomas, Natasha; Crook, Jordan (3 October 2017). "Amazon has acquired 3D body model startup, Body Labs, for $50M-$70M". TechCrunch. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  3. "Body Labs". angel-co. Archived from the original on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  4. "How A Murder Led To "The World's Most Advanced" Body-Scanning Technology". Co.Design. 2014-11-13. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  5. "Body Labs Raises $2.2 Million In Seed Funding - Body Labs". Body Labs. Archived from the original on 2017-08-19. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  6. "Body Labs Raises $11 Million In Series A Funding Led By Intel Capital - Body Labs". Body Labs. Retrieved 2017-06-07.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. "Body Labs Launches BodyKit - Body Labs". Body Labs. Retrieved 2017-06-07.[ permanent dead link ]
  8. "Body Labs' BodyKit platform creates digital 3-D human models". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  9. "Body labs launches blue, a web-based interface for accurate custom clothing and sizing - Body Labs". Body Labs. Retrieved 2017-06-07.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. "Body Labs Blue is New Online Retailer API Offering Precise, Customized Clothing Fit | 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing". 3dprint.com. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  11. "Body Labs and 3dMD Announce Partnership to Deliver First End-to-End 3D Body Scan Processing Solution - Body Labs". Body Labs. Retrieved 2017-06-07.[ permanent dead link ]
  12. "New Body Labs API Could Yield Industry-Altering Benefits To Clothing Makers, Retailers, and Buyers". ProgrammableWeb. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  13. "Mosh: Using AI to Predict 3D Human Pose & Shape from a Single Image - Body Labs". Body Labs. 2017-02-15. Archived from the original on 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  14. "Mosh Camera on the App Store". App Store. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  15. "Body Labs Launches SOMA, the first 'Human-Aware' AI Platform for Predicting 3D Human Shape and Motion from Photos or Video - Body Labs". Body Labs. Retrieved 2017-06-07.[ permanent dead link ]
  16. "Body Labs launch SOMA human-aware 3D artificial intelligence platform". TCT Magazine. 2017-06-01. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  17. "Body Labs Introduces SOMA Shape API for 3D Model and Measurement Prediction". ProgrammableWeb. Retrieved 2017-09-27.