3544results about "Photogrammetry/videogrammetry" patented technology

A system, apparatus and method of obtaining data from a 2D image in order to determine the 3D shape of objects appearing in said 2D image, said 2D image having distinguishable epipolar lines, said method comprising: (a) providing a predefined set of types of features, giving rise to feature types, each feature type being distinguishable according to a unique bi-dimensional formation; (b) providing a coded light pattern comprising multiple appearances of said feature types; (c) projecting said coded light pattern on said objects such that the distance between epipolar lines associated with substantially identical features is less than the distance between corresponding locations of two neighboring features; (d) capturing a 2D image of said objects having said projected coded light pattern projected thereupon, said 2D image comprising reflected said feature types; and (e) extracting: (i) said reflected feature types according to the unique bi-dimensional formations; and (ii) locations of said reflected feature types on respective said epipolar lines in said 2D image.

The invention discloses a method for detecting and tracking obstacles in front of a vehicle, aiming to overcome the defect and shortage in detection and tracking of obstacles in front of the vehicle by using a single-type sensor. The method comprises the following steps of: 1. establishing a relation for realizing data conversion between a millimeter wave radar coordinate system and a camera coordinate system; 2. receiving, resolving and processing the millimeter wave radar data, and carrying out preliminary classification on the obstacles; 3. synchronously collecting a camera image and receiving millimeter wave radar data; 4. classifying the obstacles in front of the vehicle: 1) projecting scanning points of the millimeter wave radar data on a camera coordinate system by combining the methods of millimeter wave radar and monocular vision, and establishing a region of interest (ROI) of the obstacles on the image; 2) carrying out preliminary classification on different obstacles in theROI established on the image, and confirming the types of the obstacles by using different image processing algorithms; and 5. tracking the obstacles in front of the vehicle.

A noncontact optical three-dimensional measuring device that includes a first projector, a first camera, a second projector, and a second camera; a processor electrically coupled to the first projector, the first camera, the second projector, and the second camera; and computer readable media which, when executed by the processor, causes the first digital signal to be collected at a first time and the second digital signal to be collected at a second time different than the first time and determines three-dimensional coordinates of a first point on the surface based at least in part on the first digital signal and the first distance and determines three-dimensional coordinates of a second point on the surface based at least in part on the second digital signal and the second distance.

An integrated system generates a model of a three-dimensional object. A scanning laser device scans the three-dimensional object and generates a point cloud. The points of the point cloud each indicate a location of a corresponding point on a surface of the object. A first model is generated, responsive to the point cloud, that generates a first model representing constituent geometric shapes of the object. A data file is generated, responsive to the first model, that can be inputted to a computer-aided design system.

Digital watermarking technology is used to convey location data for images or objects depicted in video. A digital watermark may associate geovector information with the video or object and areas depicted in the video. A geovector may include location coordinates such as longitude, latitude, altitude, etc. In one implementation, geovector information is embedded within a video frame so as to correspond with an area depicted in the video frame's center or off-center location. In a second implementation, a geovector includes an identifier or indexing protocol for use in a video management system.

An automated system and / or method is disclosed for rapidly, accurately, and efficiently processing bulk three-dimensional digital image data of both path / corridor and area scenes to discriminate different structures or classifications of objects from within the image. The method first decomposes the three-dimensional digital imagery coordinate points into simple local structures and then extracts the globally complex structures from the local structures. The system and / or method incorporates procedures for sub-dividing the three-dimensional image data into rectilinear and / or ellipsoidal finite element cells, mathematically analyzing the contents (point coordinates) of each individual cell to classify / define the local structure, and extracting the globally complex structure or object from the image. The system and / or method applies accepted mathematical formulas to filter or classify large volumes of apparently random three-dimensional point coordinate spatial data into simpler structures and then to extract more globally complex objects generally encountered within the real world imagery scene being investigated.

The method according to the invention gene rates an aerial image mosaic viewing a larger area than a single image from a camera can provide using a combination of computer vision and photogrammetry. The aerial image mosaic is based on a set of images acquired from a camera. Selective matching and cross matching of consecutive and non-consecutive images, respectively, are performed and three dimensional motion and structure parameters are calculated and implemented on the model to check if the model is stable. Thereafter the parameters are globally optimised and based on these optimised parameters the serial image mosaic is generated. The set of images may be limited by removing old image data as new images are acquired. The method makes it is possible to establish images in near real time using a system of low complexity and small size, and using only image information.

An optical imaging system and associated methods for capturing images from an aircraft, such as a UAV. A camera unit on-board the aircraft is remotely controlled from an image control station. The image control station receives image data from the camera unit, and also delivers control signals for determining a viewing mode of the image.

A method and apparatus for performing wide area terrain mapping. The system comprises a digital elevation map (DEM) and mosaic generation engine that processes images that are simultaneously captured by an electro-optical camera (RGB camera) and a LIDAR sensor. The image data collected by both the camera and the LIDAR sensor are processed to create a geometrically accurate three-dimensional view of objects viewed from an aerial platform.

A method for adjusting the modulating frequency and the intensity of the IR illumination of a Time of Flight measurement system proportionally to the speed of movement and the ambient light level of the TOF system, thus adjusting the range of vision of the system dependent on speed. In an alternate embodiment the modulating frequency of a TOF measurement system is periodically adjusted to cover a larger range of vision of the TOF.

A navigation apparatus with image recognition, includes: an imaging section for obtaining a stereo image of a target spot; an inertial information detecting section for measuring an attitude angle of a body and an acceleration of the body; an image process calculating section for calculating a relative position of the body with respect to the target spot based on the stereo image and the attitude angle; and a navigation calculating section for calculating navigation information based on the attitude angle, the acceleration and the relative position.

Methods for classifying plants by remote sensing and image analysis technology are presented. These methods are useful for evaluating plants and for selecting plants for a plant breeding program which has as its goal to selectively alter phenotype. The methods combine the newer techniques of remote sensing technology to obtain indirect correlates of the traits of interest, with classical pedigree breeding strategies. Thermal and infrared reflectance measures of plant canopies are examples of energy values measured by remote sensing, used to indirectly predict the selected traits.

Novel solutions for position measurement, including without limitation tools and techniques that can be used for land surveying and in similar applications. One such tool is a greatly enhanced position measurement system that takes the form of a surveying rod with substantial independent functionality, which can be used with or without a total station or similar device.

A computer implemented method is for processing an original digital elevation model (DEM) including data for terrain and a plurality of objects thereon. The method includes generating a lower-resolution DEM from the original DEM, and generating an objects-only DEM based upon a comparison of the lower-resolution DEM and the original DEM. The method further includes reducing noise in the objects-only DEM.

A system for measuring a distance to an object includes a camera positioned at a location and a signal generated by the camera that is reflective of a camera setting. A controller operably connected to the camera receives the signal and generates an accuracy signal based on the signal. The accuracy signal is reflective of a predicted accuracy of a distance measurement. An indicator operably connected to the controller provides an indication reflective of the accuracy signal. A method for measuring a distance to an object includes positioning a camera and generating a signal reflective of a predicted accuracy of a distance measurement. The method further includes providing an indication reflective of the signal, capturing one or more images of the object at the location, and calculating a distance to the object based on the one or more captured images of the object at the location.

A flying vehicle guiding system, which comprises a remotely controllable flying vehicle system, a surveying instrument being able to measure distance, angle, and track, and a ground base station for controlling a flight of the flying vehicle system based on measuring results by the surveying instrument, wherein the flying vehicle system has a retro-reflector as an object to be measured, wherein the surveying instrument has a non-prism surveying function for performing distance measurement and angle measurement without a retro-reflector, a prism surveying function for performing distance measurement and angle measurement with respect to the retro-reflector, and a tracking function for tracking the retro-reflector and for performing distance measurement and angle measurement, wherein the surveying instrument performs non-prism measurement on a scheduled flight area, the ground base station sets a safe flight area based on the results of the non-prism measurement, and controls so that the flying vehicle system flies in the safe flight area based on the results of tracking measurement by de surveying instrument.

A system for guided geospatial image capture, registration and 2D or 3D mosaicking, that employs automated imagery processing and cutting-edge airborne image mapping technologies for generation of geo-referenced Orthomosaics and Digital Elevation Models from aerial images obtained by UAVs and / or manned aircraft.

The scene matching method for raising navigation precision includes the following steps: 1. for the topographic scene matching module in combined navigation system to read in topographic data based on the digital topographic picture; 2. to search mapping point in the topographic picture based on the current geographic location the inertial navigation system obtains; 3. to intercept the reference map data from the topographic picture around the mapping point; 4. matching the measured map and the reference map; and 5. correcting inertial navigation with the matched result so as to raise the precision of inertial navigation system greatly. One simulating combined navigation system is also disclosed, which includes an aviation trace planning module, a flight control module, an aviation trace generator, an inertial navigation module, a topographic scene matching module matching module and an image displaying module. It has high locating precision, high autonomy and excellent man-computer operation interface.

The mirror has a base, inner stage, reflector, controller, and mechanical subsystems pivotally supporting stage and reflector: subsystem #1, the stage (about one rotation axis, relative to the base); subsystem #2, the reflector (about another axis, relative to the stage). Stage and reflector each rotate on respective jewel, ceramic or other refractory bearings. Controller establishes stage / base and reflector / stage angles. Subsystems include respective bearings. The method includes (1) using the two-axis mechanism to receive, and measure an incident angle of, incident rays from an external object; (2) then using that mechanism to direct a radiation beam from a laser source toward the external object, responsive to incident rays. Optionally step (1) operates the mirror at peak acceleration, or minimum response time, as function of mirror thickness; and provides two- to three-millimeter mirror thickness. Optionally step (2) directs the beam to disrupt object function or impair object structure.

Digital watermarking technology is used in conjunction with map data, such as is acquired by satellite and other aerial sensors. The watermarks are used to track metadata, provide serialization and forensic tracking, help auto-correlate image data, and quilt together related imagery. One aspect of the present invention contemplates that incoming imagery is automatically geo-referenced and combined with previously collected data sets so as to facilitate generation of revised composite maps. Another aspect of the present invention associates geovector information with a photograph via a digital watermark.

An image registration method and apparatus for automatically registering images of different perspectives, and where a sensor image is registered with a more precise reference image such that the geocoding of the reference image can be transferred to the sensor image.

A system, apparatus and method of obtaining data from a 2D image in order to determine the 3D shape of objects appearing in said 2D image, said 2D image having distinguishable epipolar lines, said method comprising: (a) providing a predefined set of types of features, giving rise to feature types, each feature type being distinguishable according to a unique bi-dimensional formation; (b) providing a coded light pattern comprising multiple appearances of said feature types; (c) projecting said coded light pattern on said objects such that the distance between epipolar lines associated with substantially identical features is less than the distance between corresponding locations of two neighboring features; (d) capturing a 2D image of said objects having said projected coded light pattern projected thereupon, said 2D image comprising reflected said feature types; and (e) extracting: (i) said reflected feature types according to the unique bi-dimensional formations; and (ii) locations of said reflected feature types on respective said epipolar lines in said 2D image.

The invention relates to a method and a system for detecting a road barrier. The invention discloses a first barrier detection model based on a video pick-up device, a second barrier detection model based on the video pick-up device and a millimeter-wave radar, and a third barrier detection model based on a three-dimensional laser radar and an infrared pick-up device, wherein complementary detection for the multiple models is formed through a rough set based fuzzy neural network algorithm, so that characteristic information of the road barrier can be obtained in real time. The method and system for detecting the road barrier can carry out real-time and effective road barrier detection under the conditions of different road scenes and different weathers to obtain parameters such as the travelling speed and direction of different barriers exactly, can extract and analyze surrounding environment information of vehicles from the road traffic environment, and can judge abnormal traffic behaviors so as to relieve the current urban traffic pressure and improve traffic management efficiency.

The invention provides a multi-robot automatic locating method for a robot restaurant in the locating field, wherein, a multi-robot automatic locating system comprises a central server module for therobot restaurant, a plurality of service robot locating system modules and a wireless communication module. In the invention, the central server module for the robot restaurant is in charge of globallocation on all the service robots in the robot restaurant; meeting robots in the robot restaurant and waiter robots are provided with service robot locating systems which can determine self positioncombined with multiple locating modes; and all the service robot locating system modules in the robot restaurant can perform communication related to locating information with the central server module for the robot restaurant or other service robot locating systems by the wireless communication module. The system combines practical layout in the robot restaurant and realizes high-precision multi-robot automatic location by combining with multiple locating modes together; and the system can be also applied to other scenes such as an exhibition hall and the like.

The invention provides a joint measurement method based on a laser radar and a binocular visible light camera to obtain accurate and dense three-dimensional information simply and efficiently. The joint measurement method comprises assuming that the laser radar is a camera device with a fixed internal reference; directly projecting three-dimensional point cloud data into a two-dimensional image, calculating rotation and translation relationships between the laser radar device and the binocular camera by using an image processing method and the matching between the two-dimensional images; creatively introducing an idea for obtaining a matrix norm and a matrix trace to solve a rotation matrix; finally fusing laser radar and binocular stereo vision point cloud data. The method not only can obtain an accurate position and attitude information, but also can reconstruct the special texture and feature information of a target surface, which has a high application value for spacecraft dockingand hostile satellite capture in the military field and workpiece measurement and unmanned driving in the civilian field.

A method and system are disclosed for creating a real-time, high accuracy mosaic from an aerial video image stream by applying orthorectification of each original video image frame using known ground control points, utilizing a photogrammetric model resolving the object image into pixilation, applying shading to the pixellation, and mosaicking the shaded pixilation of several orthorectified images into a mosaicked image where the mosaicked image is then scaled to the known original image dimensions.

Systems and methods are provided for extracting features of a building from data having spatial coordinates. The method includes extracting one or more walls and roofs from the data; constructing a building model from the walls and roofs; extracting color data associated with the data and projecting the color data onto the building model; superimposing one or more images onto the building model; applying pattern recognition to extract one or more three-dimensional structural components of the building model; replacing identified three-dimensional structural components with the standard structural elements; comparing subsequent data sets to identify a changed object; and, extracting one or more poles in the building model's vicinity or along the edges of roads.

The invention provides a composite three-dimensional point laser measurement system and a measurement method, comprising three-dimensional scanning and three-dimensional detection. Normal optical scanning is adopted so as to obtain the profile information of the article quickly and establish a three-dimensional model; motion trajectory planning is carried out by the profile data; and a point laser probe is guided to carry out more precise measurement so as to obtain the three-dimensional point cloud data of higher precision and higher quality. The three-dimensional non-contact detection to the characteristic position, appointed section line and integer of the workpiece is obtained further on the basis of comparing the point cloud and model data. The system and the method have the advantages that the non-contact measurement can obtain the point cloud of good quality and high precision, the article can be positioned freely, precise clamping devices are not needed, the measurement speed is quick, the process is automatic and the measured article has wide applicable range.

The invention discloses an auto meter visual detecting system based on a computer, comprising a light source, a detecting box body, a camera connected with a PC control system, and an analog signal generator connected with the PC control system, wherein the analog signal generator comprises a frequency circuit and a resistance circuit and is used for receiving commands sent by the PC control system so as to generate frequency and a resistance signal needed by meter detection; the PC control system comprises an input module, a position adjusting module, a meter dial plate identification module,a communication setting module, a camera target capturing module and an output module which are respectively connected with a PC. The position adjusting module promotes two stepping motors in a camera position adjusting mechanism to run by sending serial port commands; and the communication setting module is used for realizing Ethernet communication setting and serial port communication setting.The camera comprises an image displaying module and an image processing module. The invention also discloses a detecting method of the detecting system.