GazeSCRNN: Event-based Near-eye Gaze Tracking using a Spiking Neural Network

This work introduces GazeSCRNN, a novel spiking convolutional recurrent neural network designed for event-based near-eye gaze tracking. Leveraging the high temporal resolution, energy efficiency, and compatibility of Dynamic Vision Sensor (DVS) cameras with event-based systems, GazeSCRNN uses a spiking neural network (SNN) to address the limitations of traditional gaze-tracking systems in capturing dynamic movements. The proposed model processes event streams from DVS cameras using Adaptive Leaky-Integrate-and-Fire (ALIF) neurons and a hybrid architecture optimized for spatio-temporal data. Extensive evaluations on the EV-Eye dataset demonstrate the model's accuracy in predicting gaze vectors. In addition, we conducted ablation studies to reveal the importance of the ALIF neurons, dynamic event framing, and training techniques, such as Forward-Propagation-Through-Time, in enhancing overall system performance. The most accurate model achieved a Mean Angle Error (MAE) of 6.034deg and a Mean Pupil Error (MPE) of 2.094 mm. Consequently, this work is pioneering in demonstrating the feasibility of using SNNs for event-based gaze tracking, while shedding light on critical challenges and opportunities for further improvement.