Abstract
In this paper, we propose an intelligent lecturer tracking and capturing (ILTC) system to automatically record course videos. Real-time and stable lecturer localization is realized by combining face detection with infrared (IR) thermal sensors, preventing detection failure caused by abrupt and rapid movements in face detection and solving the non-real-time sensing problem for IR thermal sensors. Further, the camera is panned automatically by a servo motor controlled with a microcontroller to keep the lecturer in the center of the screen. Experiments were conducted in a classroom and a laboratory. Experimental results demonstrated that the accuracy of the proposed system is much higher than that of the system without IR thermal sensors. The survey of 32 teachers from two universities showed that the proposed system is a more practical utility and meets the demand of increasing online courses.