What is Keypoint Detection?

Keypoint detection is a crucial computer vision task that identifies specific locations, known as key points, within an image or video, which are essential for understanding and interpreting visual data. These key points serve as reference markers, enabling applications in various fields such as facial recognition, autonomous vehicle tracking, and medical image analysis. The technology is vital for applications like human pose estimation, where it identifies key joints and body parts, and augmented reality, where it helps align virtual objects with the real world. Traditionally dominated by methods like the Harris Corner Detector and SIFT, the field has been revolutionized by deep learning techniques such as YOLO, OpenPose, Keypoint-RCNN, and CenterNet, which offer improved accuracy and efficiency. This transformative technology continues to evolve, promising significant advancements in how machines understand and interact with the visual world.