Adaptive Sampling for 3D Pose Estimation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring the position and orientation of objects using range images suffer from high calculation times and reduced precision due to large measurement errors, especially in regions with small curvatures, which affects the accuracy of robot control in industrial tasks.
Innovation Solution
A position and orientation measurement apparatus that reduces the number of sample points based on the variation degree of distance measurement errors, sampling more points in regions with larger errors to minimize the influence of errors and maintain precision while speeding up processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the number of sample points is reduced to speed up processing, then processing time is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to increased influence of error-prone points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of sample points based on their spatial distribution characteristics. Points are classified into dense and sparse regions based on local point density, and different sampling strategies are applied to each region. This allows the system to maintain high precision in error-prone regions while reducing computational load in stable regions, thereby resolving the contradiction between processing speed and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of sample point density adaptively across different regions. By calculating the density of sample points in local neighborhoods and using this information to adjust the number of points to be processed, the system dynamically optimizes the balance between computational efficiency and measurement accuracy. This parameter change enables the system to reduce overall processing time while maintaining precision where it matters most.
2Measurement precision
If all sample points are processed to maintain precision, then measurement precision is maintained, but processing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the set of sample points into multiple groups based on their spatial distribution characteristics. By dividing the points into dense and sparse regions and processing each region with appropriate strategies, the system avoids the need to process all points uniformly. This segmentation enables the system to maintain precision through targeted processing of critical regions while reducing overall processing time through selective processing of less critical regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by processing only the necessary subset of sample points rather than all points. By identifying and processing points in sparse regions (which have higher influence on precision) while reducing or skipping processing in dense regions, the system achieves sufficient precision with reduced computational effort. This partial action strategy resolves the contradiction by doing just enough processing to maintain accuracy without the excessive action required to process all points.
Data Source
AI summary
A position/orientation measurement apparatus comprises an obtaining unit to obtain a range image to the target object; a determination unit to determine a coarse position/orientation of the target object based on the range image; a calculation unit to calculate a variation degree of distance information on a region of the range image, which region corresponds to a predetermined region on the shape model; a sampling unit to sample, for each predetermined region on the shape model, sample-points from the predetermined region to reduce the number of sample-points as the variation degree is smaller; an association unit to associate the sample-points and three-dimensional measurement points obtained by converting two-dimensional measurement points on the range image into three-dimensional coordinates based on the coarse position/orientation; and a position/orientation determination unit to determine the position/orientation of the target object based on a sum total of distances between the sample-points and the three-dimensional measurement points.


