Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 1 hr ago
POSTECH develops drone-assisted 3D tracking technology
POSTECH researchers in South Korea developed a way to track moving objects in three dimensions using drones and multiple cameras.
The system compares the drone’s position in camera footage to work out where the cameras are and how they are pointed.
It aims to avoid costly camera calibration and large support structures used in older tracking setups.
Tests found an error of about 2.3 centimetres in a small indoor space and 1.21% in outdoor trials spanning tens of metres.
The team used the method to map wind with a helium balloon and to reconstruct players’ movements and a ball’s flight during an outdoor basketball game.
The researchers say it could help with measurements in industry and defence, including situations where precise tracking has been difficult.
POSTECH researchers developed a drone-assisted system that tracks the three-dimensional movement of objects outdoors.
The system uses multiple cameras and a drone’s precise positioning data to calculate camera locations and map movement in latitude, longitude and altitude.
Tests reported errors of about 2.3 centimetres in an indoor space and 1.21% in outdoor trials.
The team used the technology to visualize airflow around a helium balloon and reconstruct the movements of basketball players and the ball.
The researchers said the technology could be used in industrial and defence settings.
- Who
- A POSTECH research team led by Professor Jin-tae Kim and master’s student Jeong-yeon Kim.
- What
- They developed drone-assisted multi-camera 3D tracking technology called DAM3T.
- When
- POSTECH announced the development on October 21, 2026.
- Where
- POSTECH is in Pohang, South Korea; the technology was tested indoors and outdoors.
- Why
- It is intended to track movement where precise measurement has been difficult, with potential industrial and defence uses.
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The team compared the system with indoor motion-capture equipment and conducted outdoor trials.
The researchers visualized airflow around a helium balloon and reconstructed movements in an outdoor basketball game.
POSTECH announced that the team had developed the tracking technology.
- System name
- Drone-assisted multi-camera 3D tracking (DAM3T)
- Indoor test space
- 6 m × 6 m × 3 m
- Indoor test error
- About 2.3 cm (1.15%)
- Outdoor test error
- 1.21%
- Research institution
- POSTECH in Pohang, South Korea
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What people are saying
This technology can be widely used in industrial and defence settings where precise measurement has been difficult.