1136 results about "Stadimeter" patented technology

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.

An aircraft control system for operations close to the ground includes a camera having a rangefinder for measuring the azimuth, elevation and slant range from a fixed point on the aircraft relative to a selected target point on a surface below the aircraft, a navigation system for measuring the latitude and longitude of the aircraft on the surface, a computer for computing the position of the fixed point on the aircraft relative to the target point from the respective measurements of the camera and the navigation system, and a controller for controlling the movement of the aircraft such that the fixed point is positioned at a selected position above the selected target point on the surface. The controller may also include an automatic tracking mechanism for maintaining the position of the fixed point on the aircraft at the selected position above a moving object.

A method and system for detecting and tracking objects near a vehicle using a three dimensional laser rangefinder. The method receives points from the laser rangefinder, where the points represent locations in space where the rangefinder senses that some object exists. An algorithm first estimates the location of a ground plane, based on a previous ground plane location, data from onboard sensors, and an eigenvector calculation applied to the point data. Next, a plan view occupancy map and elevation map are computed for stationary objects, based on point data in relation to the ground plane. Finally, dynamic objects are detected and tracked, sensing objects which are moving, such as other vehicles, pedestrians, and animals. The output of the method is a set of stationary and dynamic objects, including their shape, range, and velocity. This output can be used by downstream applications.

The invention discloses a device for measuring six-dimensional position poses of an object, which consists of a laser tracking instrument, a receiver, a computing unit and at least one small-sized laser light emitter, wherein the computing unit and the laser tracking instrument are fixedly arranged on the ground surface; the receiver is arranged on a moving object to be measured; the laser tracking instrument and the receiver communicate with the computing unit; the small-sized laser light emitter is arranged on the laser tracking instrument; a horizontal intersection angle and a pitching intersection angle of the laser tracking instrument are controllable, and the laser tracking instrument is provided with a laser distance measuring instrument; and the laser distance measuring instrument and the small-sized laser light emitter project laser light to a projection panel of the receiver respectively. The laser tracking instrument acquires a three-dimensional position of the receiver, and the computing unit solves three-dimensional postures of the receiver corresponding to a fixed coordinate system on the ground surface according to an azimuth angle of the laser tracking instrument and image data of laser faculae on the projection panel. The device can continuously measure moving objects or static objects in a large space, has the advantages of high precision, quick measuring speed, low cost and convenient arrangement, and can replace an expensive laser tracking instrument for measuring the six-dimensional poses.

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.

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.

An optical rangefinder based on time-of-flight measurement, radiates pulsed light toward an object (70), and receives reflected light from the object, the receiver operating in a photon counting mode, so as to generate a pulse for a detected photon. There is a variable probability of a photon detection on the receiver, and a controller (370, 380, 390; 365, 470, 475, 380, 390; 570, 580, 590, 390) controls the photon detection probability of the receiver, based on a light level. By controlling the detection probability according to a light level, the receiver can have an increased dynamic range, and without the expense of using optical components. This can apply even while detecting very weak signals since the receiver can still be in a photon counting mode while the detection probability is controlled. The light level can be indicated by an output of the receiver itself, or by another detector external to the receiver.

An optical range finder for determining the distance comprises a focusing optical member that focuses emitted electromagnetic radiation upon a micro-mirror array. A processor controls the micro-mirror array to direct the focused electromagnetic radiation into a defined radiation pattern consistent with a lower resolution scan over a greater area and a higher resolution scan over a lesser area of interest within the greater area. A transmission optical member focuses the defined radiation pattern toward an object. A reception optical member receives electromagnetic radiation reflected from the object. A detector detects the receipt of the reflected electromagnetic radiation. A timer determines an elapsed time, between transmission of the electromagnetic radiation to the object and receipt of the electromagnetic radiation from the object, to facilitate determination of the distance between the object and the range finder.

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.

There is provided an image pickup apparatus for use in measuring a distance from an observer to a target. The image pickup apparatus includes a case; and a plurality of cameras configured to capture images of the target is fixed in the case. In the image pickup apparatus, the distance from the observer to the target is measured based on the images of the target captured by altering baseline lengths for parallax computation obtained by combining any two of the cameras.

A sighting mechanism for a firearm, including a video camera, a video screen, a digital sighting distance meter, at least one sensor for measuring environment, cartridge and / or weapon parameters, at least one biometric sensor, at least one memory module for biometric data and / or munitions data and a digital computer. The sighting device includes at least two video cameras arranged in a parallel manner in relation to each other to capture the target sighting field. The computer has at least two video input points and an image processing unit enabling the video image data to be superimposed in real time in a pixel precise manner in relation to the target field and to be reproduced on the screen. The computer includes a ballistic computer which enables the target image to reproduced on the screen. A graticule, which is arranged in the superimposed screen or on the screen, can be positioned in an automatic manner and in real time according to the incoming data, such that the position of the graticule in the target field corresponds to a real projectile point of impact.

A compressive imaging (CI) device including a light modulator and a light sensor (e.g., a single-element sensor or a sensor array). The CI device may support the focusing of light on the light modulator and / or on the light sensor in a number of ways: (1) determining a focus indicator value by analyzing a 1D or 2D image in the incident light field; (2) measuring light spillover between modulator regions and light sensing elements—either at the level of voltage measurements or the level of reconstructed images; (3) measure noise in reconstructed sub-images; (4) measuring an amount high-frequency content in the incident light field; (5) incorporating a range finder to measure distance to the object being imaged; (6) incorporating an image sensor downstream from the modulator; and (7) splitting a portion of the incident light onto an image sensor, prior to the modulator.

A tailgate warning system, for use in a target vehicle, for determining unsafe following and followed distances, having a front rangefinder, a rear rangefinder, a vehicle speed sensor, incident memory, hazard lights, and a control unit. When an unsafe following distance is determined by the control unit using the front rangefinder and speed sensor, a dashboard audible visual alert is activated. When an unsafe followed distance is determined by the control unit using the rear rangefinder and speed sensor, the dashboard audible visual alert and the hazard lights are activated. Incidents of tailgating are recorded in the incident memory.

A rangefinder according to the present invention includes light source section, camera section, distance-measuring sensor, exposure controller and shutter. The light source section projects light onto an object for 3D imaging purposes. The camera section receives the light that was emitted from the light source section and then reflected from the object. The distance-measuring sensor estimates an approximate distance to the object. Based on the approximate distance, the exposure controller controls the optical output power of the light source section and / or the open / closed states of the shutter. The rangefinder can control the intensity of the projected light even if the object is on the move. As a result, the rangefinder can obtain highly precise information about the 3D location of the object.

A system for determining a depth of a hole drilled by a drilling machine. The system can include a drill string including one or more drill rods, wherein each of the one or more drill rods has a length; a target; a laser range finder configured to determine a plurality of distance readings, wherein each of the plurality of distance readings includes a distance value between the laser range finder and the target; and a controller configured to obtain the plurality of distance readings from the laser range finder. The controller processes the plurality of distance readings to produce a calculated distance between the laser range finder and the target. The controller may also use the calculated distance and the length of each of the one or more drill rods included in the drill string to determine the depth of the hole drilled by the drilling machine.

An articulated arm coordinate measurement machine (AACMM) that includes a noncontact 3D measurement device, position transducers, a camera, and a processor operable to project a spot of light to an object point, to measure first 3D coordinates of the object point based on readings of the noncontact 3D measurement device and the position transducers, to capture the spot of light with the camera in a camera image, and to attribute the first 3D coordinates to the spot of light in the camera image.

The invention discloses a robot hand-eye calibration method based on laser range finding. According to the method, by calculating the coordinates of laser spots under a laser range finder coordinate system, the coordinates of the laser spots under a robot coordinate system are calculated by means of the mapping relation between the laser range finder coordinate system and the robot coordinate system; by capturing pictures of the laser spots on a calibration board through a camera, the coordinates of the laser spots under a pixel coordinate system are calculated, and therefore the mapping relation between the pixel coordinate system and the robot coordinate system is calculated; the mapping relation between a camera coordinate system and the pixel coordinate system is obtained by means of parameters of the camera; and then the mapping relation between the camera coordinate system and the robot coordinate system is calculated according to the spatial switching relation. The method is carried out by emitting the laser spots to the surface of an object through a laser range finder, coordinate information of measurement points is obtained without the need of making contact with the object, in this way, operating errors are reduced, operation is easier, precision is high, manual participation is not needed in a calibration process, and automation and intellectualization are achieved.

The invention includes a sighting system for use with a firearm that has a telescopic sight, a laser rangefinder for providing the distance to the target, device(s) for receiving various inputs, a computing system that calculates the point of aim of the firearm's projectile based upon the input(s) and the calculated distance to the target, and a display means that provides an image of the computed point of aim within the telescopic sight's field of view. A method and weapon that employs the sighting system is disclosed.

The invention relates to a device and a method for measuring lens focal length as well as a method for evaluating optical quality, wherein the device for measuring the lens focal length is composed of a plane mirror, a lens to be measured, a point light source, a vertical incision, a one-dimensional precise flat movable guide rail, a laser distance measuring instrument, a CCD detector and a display, and the method for measuring the lens focal length is as follows: (1) adjusting the autocollimation of the point light source and the lens to be measured; (2) adjusting the plane mirror to make the transflective convergent beam enter the CCD detector; (3) measuring the focal depth of the lens to be measured; (4) measuring the distance L from the point light source to the geometric main plane of the lens to be measured; (5) calculating the focal length f = L + d of the lens to be measured, and the d is the distance between the geometric main plane of the lens and the optical main plane. The optical processing quality of the lens to be measured is qualitatively evaluated through the observation of shape of the far-field focal spot. The device and the method are applied to the measurement and evaluation of the small-bore short-focus and large-bore long-focus lens, and have the advantages of the intuitionism, the high measuring precision and the simple mechanism.

A fully automatic, head mounted, hand and eye free camera System and photography are disclosed. The fully automatic, head mounted, hand and eye free camera System consist of three components: A) a head mounted camera header, B) a portable personal computer, and C) a hand hold controller. The component A (head mounted camera header) is composed of two set of eye ball trackers / range finder / digital camera headers. The component B (portable personal computer) control eye ball tracker and the range finder to determine the direction of eye sight and the distance between the eye and the target, and adjusts the lens of the digital camera header to aim at and focus on target to take pictures or record video and to save the pictures or video to the storage of the portable personal computer. The user control whole system by pressing the buttons at component C (hand hold controller). The aiming, focusing, and the capturing procedure is automatic, continuous, and in the real time, and is a true process of “What you see is what you get (photo or video)”.

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, an embodiment may comprise 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 comprising: at least three or more light sources located on a target at known three-dimensional coordinates relative to each other; at least one rotatable camera rotatable on about a first axis and a second axis wherein the camera records positions of the light sources; and two angular measuring devices to measure the angles of rotation of the camera 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.

A system and method to estimate the absolute coarse pose of a rigid body, and more specifically of an individual's head as captured by overhead wide-angle cameras, by integrating position and pose information. Position information ideally includes three-dimensional position information provided by range finders or derived from images captured by multiple cameras. The three-dimensional position information can additionally be employed to determine the anchored viewing ray for the object.

Mounting a LIDAR above or external to a vehicle can enhance the LIDAR field of view but can conflict with vehicle aesthetics and ergonomics. Within embodiments, vehicle-integrated systems for distributing laser beams around a vehicle to increase coverage with a low-profile laser range finder are disclosed. A LIDAR can be embedded beneath a roof or body panel of a vehicle as part of a laser distribution system including a set of reflectors and lenses operable to adapt the LIDAR field of view to the vehicle shape. The set of embedded reflectors can guide laser beams parallel (e.g. within the roof structure), to and from the set of lenses at the roof edge to transmit the guided laser into regions of the surrounding beyond the direct field of view of the LIDAR. In other embodiments a beam guide (e.g. including a headlight assembly) can enable a LIDAR to perform ranging from behind a vehicle body panel.

The present invention is directed to a device for steering a second agricultural machine which can be steered over a field relative to a first agricultural machine. The device includes a distance meter mounted on one of the machines and operable for recording measured values with regard to direction and distance of objects adjacent to the distance meter over a horizontal region. The device also includes an evaluating means which is connected to the distance meter and is designed to output a steering signal for causing guidance of the second machine relative to the first machine on the basis of the measured values of the distance meter.

The invention discloses a non-cooperative target abutting measurement method based on additional sighting distance. The non-cooperative target abutting measurement method is combined by two measurement modes of different principles, i.e. a binocular vision measurement mode and a laser ranging mode, wherein the binocular vision measurement mode is a main measurement means for a six-degree-of-freedom parameter of a target relative position and a relative gesture; the laser ranging mode is mainly characterized in that a laser distance meter provides a laser light beam hot spot emitted on a target surface; and then, a Z coordinate of the hot spot to a laser distance meter coordinate system is obtained. Because measurement precision of the laser distance meter on a relatively long distance is far higher than that of the binocular vision measurement, the Z coordinate measured by a tiny fault of the laser distance meter can be used for correcting the Z coordinate obtained by the binocular vision measurement. X and Y coordinate correction can be carried out by relevance among three position coordinates in the binocular vision measurement, so that the three position coordinates of any characteristic point obtained by vision measurement can be corrected so as to improve binocular vision measurement precision, and especially measurement precision of a long-distance target characteristic point is improved.

Exemplary embodiments are directed to dual camera autofocusing in digital cameras with error detection. An auxiliary lens and image sensor shares a housing with a main lens and image sensor which together act as a range finder to determine the distance to a scene. Scene distance is used in combination with contrast-detection autofocus to achieve maximum sharpness in the image. Errors in distance determination may be found and corrected using a comparison of data collected from the auxiliary lens and main lens.

An electronic camera for producing an output image of a scene from a captured image signal includes a first imaging stage comprising a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output and a first lens for forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor, and a second imaging stage comprising a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output and a second lens for forming a second image of the scene on the second image sensor, where the lenses have different focal lengths. A processing stage uses the sensor output from one of the imaging stages as the captured image signal and uses the images from both imaging stages to generate a range map identifying distances to the different portions of the scene.

The invention relates to a moving robot obstacle avoiding method based on a laser range finder, which comprises the following steps: building the coordinate system of the robot; with the current location of the robot as a center of a circle, simulating laser transmission at the origin of coordinates to transmit N laser beams of which the directions are determined as candidate directions of the motion of the robot; dividing laser information into groups, selecting an obstacle point in each group, and mapping the obstacle point into the coordinate system of the robot; expanding the robot into acircle with a radius of R, drawing two tangent lines of the circle through one obstacle point, working out the range of the candidate directions in which the robot can go across the obstacle point according to the included angles of the tangent lines and an X-axis, and getting the direction in which the robot can go across the obstacle point; defining a cost function to evaluate all feasible directions, and selecting the optimal direction of the next circle of motion of the robot; and working out the linear speed and angular speed of the robot by using a speed control policy. According to themethod, the robot can avoid an obstacle in an unknown environment, and has high performance; and without deeper theoretical foundation, the method is simple, smart, easy to understand and practical, requires small calculation, and is particularly suitable to use.