Laser Scanner Layout for Real-Time Colored 3D Point Clouds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser scanners for optical measurement and imaging of environments often lack the capability to efficiently generate and display colored 3D point clouds, particularly in real-time, due to limitations in distance measurement modules and data processing.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a laser scanner system that includes an optical distance measuring device, a color camera, and a processing unit that can continuously stream and process measurement data in real-time, allowing for the generation and display of colored 3D point clouds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a laser scanner uses a rotating beam deflection element for high-speed scanning sensing, then the scanning speed and coverage area are improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of maintaining rotational precision increase
Solution Approach 1:
The laser scanner is divided into two independent rotational systems: a slow-axis azimuth rotation system for directional control and a fast-axis elevation rotation system for beam deflection. This segmentation allows each axis to be optimized independently, reducing the complexity of controlling a single high-speed rotating mechanism while maintaining high scanning speed through the fast-axis beam deflection element.
2Productivity
If the laser scanner integrates both distance measurement and color imaging functions, then the productivity and information quality are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The laser scanner integrates the distance measurement module (transmitter and receiver for time-of-flight measurements) and the color camera module (RGB sensors) into a single unified system with shared mechanical support and synchronized control. This merging allows simultaneous acquisition of distance and color data along the same scanning paths, improving productivity by capturing both geometric and photometric information in one operation while managing complexity through integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating support structure and beam steering mechanism serve multiple functions: they control the direction of the laser distance measurement beam and simultaneously guide the viewing direction of the color camera. This multi-functionality allows a single mechanical system to enable both distance sensing and color imaging operations, improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the laser scanner processes and displays colored 3D point clouds in real-time, then the ease of operation and data analysis are improved, but the computational requirements and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary association of color data with distance measurement data during the data acquisition phase, creating pre-integrated point cloud data structures that combine spatial coordinates from the distance measurements with color values from the camera. This preliminary action reduces the computational burden during real-time display by having the data already organized and correlated, improving ease of operation while minimizing additional processing time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables rapid and accurate optical measurement and imaging of environments, allowing for real-time display of colored 3D point clouds, which enhances user interaction and data analysis.
Implementation Method 1
A common approach to this involves a scanning of the environment by means of pulsed electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser light, wherein an echo is received from a back-scattering surface point of the environment and, for example, on the basis of the transit time, the shape, and/or the phase of the pulse a distance to the surface point is derived
Implementation Method 2
In the case of a scanned sensing typically by means of at least one rotating beam deflection element for variation of the alignment of the emission direction of the distance measurement beam, e.g. a plane mirror inclined with respect to an axis of rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A laser scanner and a system with a laser scanner for measuring an environment. The laser scanner includes an optical distance measuring device, a support, a beam steering unit rotatably fixed to the support which rotates around a beam axis of rotation. The beam steering unit includes a mirrored surface which deflects radiation used in the optical distance measurement and an angle encoder for recording angle data. The optical distance measurement is performed by a progressive rotation of the beam steering unit about the beam axis of rotation and the continuous emission of a distance measurement radiation, the emission being made through an outlet area arranged in the direction of the mirrored surface on the support, the receiving optics for receiving radiation are arranged on the support, and wherein the outlet area has a lateral offset with respect to the optical axis of the receiving optics.