8015 results about "Laser ranging" patented technology

Single-camera image processing methods are disclosed for 3D navigation within ordinary moving video. Along with color and brightness, XYZ coordinates can be defined for every pixel. The resulting geometric models can be used to obtain measurements from digital images, as an alternative to on-site surveying and equipment such as laser range-finders. Motion parallax is used to separate foreground objects from the background. This provides a convenient method for placing video elements within different backgrounds, for product placement, and for merging video elements with computer-aided design (CAD) models and point clouds from other sources. If home users can save video fly-throughs or specific 3D elements from video, this method provides an opportunity for proactive, branded media sharing. When this image processing is used with a videoconferencing camera, the user's movements can automatically control the viewpoint, creating 3D hologram effects on ordinary televisions and computer screens.

The invention relates to a high voltage overhead transmission line line-inspection unmanned aerial vehicle photoelectric detection device belonging to the technical field of power line inspection. The invention aims at solving the problem of single technology of the existing overhead transmission line line-inspection. The high voltage overhead transmission line line-inspection unmanned aerial vehicle photoelectric detection device mainly comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle, a GPS (global position system) inertial integrated attitude azimuth detection device, a damping device, a rotation detection nacelle, a ground data receiving processor and a controller. The high voltage overhead transmission line line-inspection unmanned aerial vehicle photoelectric detection device is characterized in that the GPS inertial integrated attitude azimuth detection device is arranged at the inner part of the unmanned aerial vehicle; the rotation detection nacelle is hung below the unmanned aerial vehicle by the damping device; a photoelectric stabilized platform is installed in the rotation detection nacelle; flexible combination of any two or more of a visible light camera, an ultraviolet ray imager and a full-digital dynamic thermal infrared imager and a laser ranging device are borne on the photoelectric stabilized platform; and the rotation detection nacelle is provided with a visible window. With the adoption of the high voltage overhead transmission line line-inspection unmanned aerial vehicle photoelectric detection device, a high voltage transmission line can be monitored, and a comprehensive and precise high voltage overhead transmission line line-inspection task is realized by combining interchange among a plurality of sensors.

The present invention is a laser ranging device that incorporates an internal tilt sensor, an internal temperature sensor, and an internal pressure sensor. The tilt sensor is used to measure the target's vertical angle relative to the horizontal reference plane. Digital signal processing circuitry controls the firing of the laser pulse, calculation of time-of-flight range, measurement of the vertical angle of the tilt sensor, measurement of ambient temperature and storage of tilt sensor and temperature sensor calibration data. The digital signal processing circuitry then provides the user temperature corrected ballistic ranging information, including horizontal range. Additionally, an automatic gain control system minimizes the effects of target to target variance in reflectivity and its associated errors. It is also an object of this invention to electronically minimize errors in the measurement of a vertical angle caused by housing vibration and by temperature variance errors.

A microprocessor circuit that is used to monitor and control a firearm. The microprocessor circuit accomplishes this by monitoring various sensor & control inputs, and acting on these inputs to execute user defined functions. The microprocessor circuit can use the sensory input to determine firearm statistics. These statistics can include the number of times the firearm has been shot, the efficiency of the firearm automatic action, range-to-target, and et cetera. The firearm system can also use a combination of sensors to fabricate a bullet chronograph whereby the muzzle velocity of a cartridge can be determined. These statistics can be date-stamped and recorded into memory. Statistics from Law Enforcement firearms can be used for courtroom evidence and police reporting. These statistics can also be used for firearm maintenance and warranty repair. The microprocessor circuit can display the statistical data to the user via simple light emitting diodes, or sophisticated liquid crystal displays. Data can also be downloaded to a computer docking station as well. The microprocessor circuit can also display the information within the optics of a riflescope. When used in conjunction with a laser range finder sensor, the microprocessor circuit can adjust the electronic cross-hairs (reticle) to compensate for the bullet trajectory.

Embodiments of the invention comprise an apparatus for use with a laser range finder configured to direct a laser beam toward a scene to measure the distance to a target in the scene and having a range finder display for displaying data, including data that is indicative of the distance to a target, wherein the apparatus comprises a protective housing, a camera module in the housing, the camera module including a lens mounted in a front end portion of the housing, and a light path through the lens to image sensor, an image sensor operatively connected to the camera module for receiving images acquired by the camera module, electronic memory for selectively storing data of images from the image sensor, circuitry for controlling the operation of the image sensor and the memory, a camera display in the housing operatively connected to the image sensor for receiving the image data and providing a visual display of the image, and a switch for storing image data in the memory. Other embodiments include a projector in the housing for projecting the data displayed by the second display onto the image sensor to thereby capture the image data of the scene and displayed distance data together.

The laser range finding system includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor unit (SU) and a LIDAR processor unit (PU). The LIDAR SU is for transmitting light pulses and receiving resulting input light signals reflected from objects within the field of view of the SU. The LIDAR SU includes a flash LIDAR illuminating laser source for transmitting light pulses. The LIDAR illuminating laser source includes an illuminating laser and zoom optics operatively associated with the laser. A LIDAR receiver receives resulting input light signals reflected from the objects. The LIDAR receiver includes a sensor; and, a flash readout integrated circuit (IC). The flash readout IC measures the transit time of the light pulses. The LIDAR processor unit (PU) is operatively associated with the LIDAR SU and it utilizes flash LIDAR ranging. A power source is operatively coupled to the LIDAR PU. Zooming of the transmitted light pulses results in the received resulting input light signals illuminating a relatively reduced area of the frame. Thus, a flash LIDAR image of relatively reduced resolution but enhanced range is provided by utilization of the transit time measurements.

A method for constructing a 3D reference map useable in real-time mapping, localization and / or change analysis, wherein the 3D reference map is built using a 3D SLAM (Simultaneous Localization And Mapping) framework based on a mobile laser range scanner A method for real-time mapping, localization and change analysis, in particular in GPS-denied environments, as well as a mobile laser scanning device for implementing said methods.

The invention discloses an automatic-navigation crawler-type mobile fruit picking robot which comprises a mechanical execution system and a control system and is characterized in that the mechanical execution system comprises an intelligent movable platform, a fruit picking mechanical arm and a two-finger type manipulator, wherein the intelligent movable platform comprises two crawler assemblies, an experimental facility fixing rack, a supporting stand column, a cross beam, a speed reducer and the like; and the control system comprises an industrial personal computer, a motion control card, a data collecting card, an image collecting card, an encoder, a GPS (global position system), a monocular zooming camera assembly, a binocular camera, a laser ranging sensor, a control circuit and the like. The automatic-navigation crawler-type mobile fruit picking robot integrates the fruit picking mechanical arm, the two-finger type manipulator, the intelligent movable platform and the sensor system, integrates multiple key technologies such as fruit identification, motion of the picking mechanical arm, grabbing of a tail-end executer, automatic navigation and obstacle avoidance of the movable platform, and the like, and really realizes automatic and humanized fruit picking.

An automatic focusing system for an imaging-based bar code reader. The automatic focusing system employs a two step process for moving a lens of an imaging system along its path of travel such that a sharp image of a target bar code is projected or focused onto an imaging system pixel array. The first step is laser ranging which utilizes a laser beam for range finding. Laser ranging determines a distance between the imaging system pixel array and the target bar code. Given the determined distance, the automatic focusing system moves the lens to a suitable position for imaging the target bar code. If ambient conditions prevent laser ranging from properly working, the second step is focus analysis. Focus analysis involves moving the lens in accordance with a search routine and analyzing image frames of the target object to find a suitable focus position.

A portable self-standing electromagnetic (EM) field sensing locator system with attachments for finding and mapping buried objects such as utilities and with intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) displays. Accessories include a ground penetrating radar (GPR) system with a rotating Tx / Rx antenna assembly, a leak detection system, a multi-probe voltage mapping system, a man-portable laser-range finder system with embedded dipole beacon and other detachable accessory sensor systems are accepted for attachment to the locator system for simultaneous operation in cooperation with the basic locator system. The integration of the locator system with one or more additional devices, such as fault-finding, geophones and conductance sensors, facilitates the rapid detection and localization of many different types of buried objects.

The invention discloses a transformer station inspection tour robot positioning navigation system and a method. Confidence obtained by a laser range finding module and a dead reckoning module is outputted to a map creation module and a pose resolving module; the map creation module creates a laser road sign map and a laser grid map which show a robot operation environment and are inputted into a map storage module for storage; the posture resolving module utilizes map data in the map storage module and output data of the dead reckoning module to perform real-time calculation on the current position and the posture of the robot and accesses the obtained posture data into a path planning module and a motion control module; the path planning module generates robot operation path data which is outputted to the motion control module; the motion control module generates motion control quantity according to the current position and posture data of the robot and the path planning data, and then is driven to execute by a motor. The transformer station inspection tour robot positioning navigation system realizes the accuracy positioning of the inspection tour robot in the transformer station.

A closed-loop LRF pointing technology to measure the range of a target satellite from a chaser satellite for rendezvous is provided that includes several component technologies: LOS angle measurements of the target satellite on a visible sensor focal plane and the angles' relationships with the relative position of the target in inertial or LVLH frame, a relative navigation Kalman filter, attitude determination of the visible sensor with gyros, star trackers and a Kalman filter, pointing and rate commands for tracking the target, and an attitude controller. An analytical, steady-state, three-axis, six-state Kalman filter is provided for attitude determination. The system and its component technologies provide improved functionality and precision for relative navigation, attitude determination, pointing, and tracking for rendezvous. Kalman filters are designed specifically for the architecture of the closed-loop system to allow for pointing the laser rangefinder to a target even if a visible sensor, a laser rangefinder, gyros and a star tracker are misaligned and the LOS angle measurements from the visible sensor are interrupted.

An unmanned aerial delivery device has a plurality of rotors for propulsion and control, including redundant rotors in case of failure of a primary rotor, and uses a Laser Rangefinder system to guide the delivery device around an obstacle in its path until an acceptable straight-line path to a recipient is found, detect when a rotor is inoperable, and detect the distance from a take-off or landing surface to retract or extend support legs. The device has an insulated payload chamber that can only be opened by entering an unlock code on a touchscreen

The invention relates to a welding track detection and control method of plate butt weld based on laser ranging, including the following steps: A. track detection is carried out; B. track identification and extraction are carried out; C. track control is carried out; D. the relative position relation between a welding gun and a welding seam is adjusted at last by performing mechanism actions. In the invention, the information of welding seam profile is obtained by transverse scanning of a laser sensor, and welding seam is rebuilt after effective wave filtering treatment to realize three-dimensional detection of the welding seam; simultaneously, the welding track curve is obtained by fit while detecting welding seam by using dynamic B spline fit algorithm, and the track control is carried out in combination with constant speed B spline track interpolation algorithm, thereby fundamentally solving the problem of track detection and control in automatic welding of plate butt weld. By using the method in the invention, the field test welding has welding profile identification precision of 0.15mm and welding track identification precision of 0.2mm, and the welding speed is more than four times of common manual welding.

The present invention is directed toward systems for conducting laser range and enabling optical communication between a plurality of entities and to the application of such systems in a secure covert combat identification system. In one embodiment, the present invention uses a novel laser system that generates high pulse rates, as required for optical communications, while concurrently generating sufficiently high power levels, as required by laser range finding operations. One application of the present invention is in enabling secure covert communications between a plurality of parties. Another application of the present invention is in tracking and identifying the movement of objects.

A portable self-standing electromagnetic (EM) field sensing locator system with attachments for finding and mapping buried objects such as utilities and with intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) displays. Accessories include a ground penetrating radar (GPR) system with a rotating Tx / Rx antenna assembly, a leak detection system, a multi-probe voltage mapping system, a man-portable laser-range finder system with embedded dipole beacon and other detachable accessory sensor systems are accepted for attachment to the locator system for simultaneous operation in cooperation with the basic locator system. The integration of the locator system with one or more additional devices, such as fault-finding, geophones and conductance sensors, facilitates the rapid detection and localization of many different types of buried objects.

The present invention relates to laser ranging and detection by sequentially emitting a plurality of beams from a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) structure, re-directing the beams through optical elements such that they are fanned out over the region of view, and detecting any beams that may be reflected by objects in the region of view. The range and bearing of such objects can be determined from the beam time-of-flight and beam angle.

An embodiment may comprise a camera based target coordinate measuring system or apparatus for use in measuring the position of objects in manner that preserves a high level of accuracy. This high level of measurement accuracy is usually only associated with more expensive laser based devices. Many different arrangements are possible. Other embodiments may comprise related methods of using a camera based target coordinate measuring method for use in measuring the position of objects. Many variations on the methods are possible. For example, a camera based coordinate measuring system for use in measuring the position of a target relative to at least one frame of reference without requiring use of a laser range finder for measuring distance may comprise at least three or more light sources located on a target wherein the light sources are located on the target at known three-dimensional coordinates relative to each other; at least one rotatable mirror rotatable on about a first axis and a second axis; a camera located to receive light emitted by the light sources that is reflected off the minor; two angular measuring devices to measure the angles of rotation of the mirror about the first and second axes; and a processor for determining up to three positional degrees of freedom and up to three rotational degrees of freedom of the target.

The invention discloses a mobile robot three-dimensional mapping and obstacle avoidance method based on a space bag of words model. The method comprises following steps: 1) collecting Kinect sensor data, and using a space bag of words model which fuses spatial relationships to describe scene image features 2) describing robot three-dimensional SLAM by means of the SDBoW2 model of the scene image to realize closed loop detection, three-dimensional point cloud registration, and graph structure optimization and therefore creating a global environmental three-dimensional point cloud density map; 3) the robot using the created global three-dimensional map and the Kinect sensor information to perform indoor real-time obstacle avoidance guiding. The method is aimed at low cost mobile robots without speedometers or laser distance measuring sensors; reliable real-time three-dimensional map creation and obstacle avoidance can be realized depending only on Kinect sensors; the method can be applied in long time mobile robot operation service at large area of indoor environment such as household places and office rooms, etc.

An integrated digital mapping device contains a personal pen tablet computer (PC), GPS receiver, tilt meter (liquid filled or accelerometer-based), compass and laser range finder integrated into a single housing. The laser range finder is combined with a visible laser to provide convenient aiming. The device also includes a trigger to initiate a measurement cycle. In response to activation of a measurement cycle, the GPS receiver determines the precise location of the measurement device while the other components provide a measurement of tilt angle (up or down inclination pitch), azimuth, and distance an object or area of interest. The roll (left or right sideways tilt) of the tilt meter also provides information when the tablet is aligned with planar objects. The data from a measurement cycle is converted into a predetermined data format for use with the conventional digital mapping software application program operating within the PC.

The invention discloses a dual-wavelength dipulse non-fuzzy laser ranging device. According to the basic principle, two laser pulses with two wavelengths are emitted, time intervals of the two laser pulses are sequentially encoded, a receiving channel receives laser back waves with two wavelengths with a wavelength beam splitting method and transmits the laser back waves to two detectors respectively, and time measurement is conducted on the laser back waves; back wave time difference between the pulses with the two wavelengths is calculated, the time difference of the starting pulse corresponding to the current laser back wave is accurately decoded, and the distance of a target is calculated. The dual-wavelength dipulse non-fuzzy laser ranging device has the advantages that the two pulses with the two wavelengths and encoded time intervals are adopted for ranging, and remote high-repetition-frequency non-fuzzy laser ranging can be achieved.

A laser range finder includes a circular in-sight field of view which incorporates within it a magnified "TV view" of the target area with the TV view roughly approximating the rectangular shape of a standard television picture. Also within the circular field, over and under the TV view, are a target quality indicator, a range distance display, and other indicators. Within the TV view is a targeting reticle which indicates roughly the footprint of ranging laser pulses such that a target can be selected. The target quality indicator is a bar graph which displays the number of identifiable received reflected laser pulses from a series of such pulses emitted by the range finder. By aiming the range finder at various targets via the footprint reticle, repeatedly firing the range finder and monitoring the target quality graph for each firing, a user can move the range finder to find a surface proximate the target with a reflective quality sufficient to yield an accurate target range reading. Alternatively, with a range finder equipped with Scan mode capability, the range finder can be slowly panned across multiple targets with the range to each target being displayed, in sequence, on the range display.

The invention provides an improved VFH algorithm-based positioning and obstacle avoidance method and robot. According to the improved VFH algorithm-based positioning and obstacle avoidance method and robot, on the basis of an improved vector field histogram method and a scan matching algorithm, environmental information is acquired by the adoption of a laser range-finder sensor, and the pose error brought by speedometer is amended by the adoption of the polar coordinate scan matching algorithm. After robot positioning is finished, environmental information is rasterized, an obstacle is expanded according to the relationship between the robot and the obstacle and considering the sensing uncertainty of a movable robot and the real size of the robot, an original polar coordinate histogram is built, the free walking area and the obstacle avoidance area are acquired, a binary polar coordinate histogram is acquired through the definition of two threshold values, a shielding polar coordinate histogram is built through estimating the movement trail of the movable robot, and finally, the cost function is introduced to determine the best movement direction of the robot so as to solve the problem of shielding route planning of the movable robot in a home environment.

The invention relates to the technical field of mobile robot autonomous navigation and particularly relates to an omnidirectional mobile robot autonomous navigation apparatus and method based on a laser range finder. The omnidirectional mobile robot autonomous navigation apparatus based on the laser range finder comprises an encoder for measuring the movement distance of wheels of a mobile robot, and an inertia measurement unit for measuring the rotation angular velocity and the acceleration of the mobile robot. The encoder and the inertia measurement unit are connected with a controller. The omnidirectional mobile robot autonomous navigation apparatus also comprises the laser ranger finder which is connected with a host computer. The host computer is connected with the controller, and the controller is connected with an execution unit. The invention utilizes the laser range finder to position the mobile robot, establishes a two-dimensional planar map of the environment, carries out autonomous navigation according to a target task, and achieves autonomous obstacle avoidance in the movement.

The invention discloses a three-dimensional optimizing route selection method based on an airborne laser radar. The method comprises the following steps of: carrying out flight design according to a feasible route of a line, and acquiring flight field data by the laser radar according to design parameters; carrying out united computation on laser ranging data and POS system positioning data to obtain laser point cloud data through pre-processing the data; post-processing the data to obtain a point cloud classification map, a digital elevation model (DEM), a digital surface model (DSM), a contour line and a digital orthoimage map (DOM); importing into a three-dimensional optimizing route selection system, selecting a line route, checking peripheral landform of a line corridor, and carrying out optimization design on the line; combining with a three-dimensional image and a plane section, carrying out operations of pre-arranging poles and arranging poles in a route selection software, and outputting an image route diagram; and drawing the plane section of the route, and carrying out alignment survey. The method utilizes the section view and the orthoimage in the three-dimensional optimizing route selection system to realize the operations of pre-arranging the poles and arranging the poles, so as to generate a plane section diagram needed by power industry department, and the operation efficiency of route selection is improved.

Single-camera image processing methods are disclosed for 3D navigation within ordinary moving video. Along with color and brightness, XYZ coordinates can be defined for every pixel. The resulting geometric models can be used to obtain measurements from digital images, as an alternative to on-site surveying and equipment such as laser range-finders. Motion parallax is used to separate foreground objects from the background. This provides a convenient method for placing video elements within different backgrounds, for product placement, and for merging video elements with computer-aided design (CAD) models and point clouds from other sources. If home users can save video fly-throughs or specific 3D elements from video, this method provides an opportunity for proactive, branded media sharing. When this image processing is used with a videoconferencing camera, the user's movements can automatically control the viewpoint, creating 3D hologram effects on ordinary televisions and computer screens.

The present invention is directed toward systems for conducting laser range and enabling optical communication between a plurality of entities and to the application of such systems in a secure covert combat identification system. In one embodiment, the present invention uses a novel laser system that generates high pulse rates, as required for optical communications, while concurrently generating sufficiently high power levels, as required by laser range finding operations. One application of the present invention is in enabling secure covert communications between a plurality of parties. Another application of the present invention is in tracking and identifying the movement of objects.

An indoor surveying apparatus comprises a 2D range finder, means for automatically aligning 2D range finder data and computing a 2D map of the environment, a calibrated optical imaging system for capturing images of environment, and means for establishing positions and extents of walls, doors, and windows and for drawing floor plans using the computed 2D map and calibrated images where 2D range finder data is missing. It is further contemplated that the imaging system can also be part of the range finder, that the range finder can be a scanning laser range finder, that the imaging system can include a panoramic lens with 180 degree field of view, that the apparatus can further include an IMU, an electronic compass, a panoramic rotator, and means for measuring positions of points on the floor using the image data.

A compact optical payload for an unmanned aircraft includes two infrared cameras for wide and narrow field viewing, a daylight color camera, a laser pointer and a laser range finder.

The invention provides a system for a pilotless plane to automatically avoid a barrier and an avoiding method of the system. The system comprises a laser distance measuring device, a plane-mounted signal control system, a plane-mounted air route database, a plane-mounted communication system and a navigational flight control system. The system particularly has good avoiding function to small barriers such as a high-voltage cable and the like due to the designed laser fan-beam scanning device and simultaneously can emit a plurality of light beams to the barrier within a short time, thereby solving the problem that the measured data are inaccurate as single-beam laser is easily blocked by particulate matters such as mist, foam, dust and envapour in the air in the past and improving the anti-interference capacity of the laser distance measurement and making the pilotless plane with the automatic avoiding device to efficiently, and therefore, the pilotless plane provided with an automatic avoiding device can complete the flight mission in a relatively complicated geographical environment safely and quickly.