Estimation of Hookean Parameters of Deformable Bodies from Real Videos

In this paper, we present a new method for estimating the linear elasticity parameters of soft bodies directly from videos of solids getting deformed under external user action. Our method requires one standard camera, a regular light source, a deformable solid and its 3D geometrical model. We make those estimations using an inverse method based on a quasi-static FEM simulation, large displacements, and a visual error metric. The result is a set of two parameters, the Young´s modulus and the Poisson ´s ratio, that can be used for more complex simulations, or force feedback applications like virtual surgery for example. We characterize different materials like silicon or synthetic sponge. Then we validate our results by comparing them to a Zwick universal hardness tester measurements. We also present a new simple device for capturing the external forces applied on the deformable solids.