Object identification using 3-d curve matching

A system for the identification of an instance of an object of interest matching at least one 2D images of said instance with a database of 3D curve models of a set of said instances, said system comprising one or more computer processors and a plurality of components, each component comprising computer-executable instructions executing upon the one or more computer processors, the system comprising:

• an interface component which provides:
• an interface component, said interface inputting at least one 2D images of an instance;
• an alignment component, said alignment component matching said at least one 2D image to a given 3D curve model of at least one instance;
• a distance computing component, said distance computing component computing a distance between said at least one 2D image and said 3D curve model of said at least one instance.

A computer-implemented method for the creation of a 3D curve model of an instance of an object of interest from a set of 2D images of said instance, the method performed by computer-executable instructions executing upon one or more computer processors, the method, comprising:

• inputting a set of 2D images, each such 2D image comprising a view of said instance;
• creating a silhouette representation of said instance from a plurality of said views of said instance;
• creating a visual hull representation of said instance from a plurality of said silhouette representations;
• identifying a set of distinguishing image points in said set of 2D image of said instance;
• and
• creating a 3D curve model of said instance by back-projecting said set of distinguishing image points onto said visual hull representation of said instance.