Laser Scanner Data Marker for Scan Gap Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile laser scanning systems face limitations in real-time preview resolution and timeliness due to computing power constraints and screen resolution, leading to undetected scanning errors, especially in environments with weak reflections, which can result in incomplete surveys and costly re-scans.
Innovation Solution
A device that marks gaps in scan data by displaying data markings for consecutive distance measurements exceeding a threshold, allowing immediate correction of scan gaps and errors, even with limited computing power, by using a timer to detect absent reflections and marking them on the screen for corrective action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the preview is generated in greatly reduced resolution to minimize computing time-related latency, then the timeliness of the preview is improved, but the ability to detect small-scale scanning errors is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the scanning point cloud data into discrete sampling points that can be individually evaluated. By processing and displaying individual sampling points with their quality metrics separately, the system can maintain reduced overall resolution while still detecting local errors through point-by-point quality assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality assessment by evaluating each sampling point's contribution to the preview based on local criteria such as reflection strength and spatial distribution. This allows the system to identify and flag specific problematic areas (like weakly reflecting objects) without requiring full high-resolution processing of the entire scene.
2Device complexity
If the screen resolution and human eye resolution are limited, then the device complexity is reduced, but the detection of small-scale scanning errors is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary quality assessment layer between the raw scanning data and the display output. This intermediary system evaluates each sampling point's quality metrics and attaches quality indicators, allowing the display to show reduced resolution while maintaining error detection capability through the intermediate quality assessment layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by adding quality metric parameters to each sampling point rather than relying solely on spatial resolution. By transforming the data representation to include temporal distance and quality indicators, the system can detect errors that would otherwise be invisible at limited screen resolutions.
3Power
If undersampling is applied to reduce data amount for preview, then the computing power requirement is reduced, but the detection of missing measured values is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary quality assessment actions on sampling points before final preview generation. By pre-evaluating each point's quality metrics and temporal characteristics, the system can identify potential gaps and missing data early in the processing pipeline, allowing for corrective measures before the preview is displayed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where quality metrics of sampling points are continuously monitored and fed back to the processing system. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust processing parameters and alert operators to potential scan completeness issues even when operating with undersampled data for real-time preview.
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
Enables reliable, fast, and cost-effective environmental measurement by ensuring complete coverage and immediate correction of scan gaps, overcoming limitations in screen and human eye resolution, and reducing the need for re-scan operations.
Implementation Method 1
a vehicle-mountable laser scanner which is designed to scan the environment by means of essentially periodically emitted laser pulses and from the environment-reflected laser pulses to generate a sequence of distance measurement values
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (1) for measuring an environment (2) from a vehicle (3), comprising a laser scanner (1') which scans the environment (2) by means of laser pulses (Si) and generates a sequence (14) of distance measurements (di) and therefrom a sequence (35, 36) of sampling points (Pi, Pn) which form a sampling point cloud, and a display unit (1") which projects the sampling point cloud (8') onto a screen (26), wherein the laser scanner (1') generates a data marker (M) for two consecutive distance measurements (di) in the distance measurement sequence (14) whose time interval (ΔT) exceeds a threshold value (TL), or for two consecutive sampling points (Pi, Pn) in the sampling point sequence (36) whose time or spatial interval (ΔT, ΔO) exceeds a threshold value (TL, OL), and wherein the display unit (1") Data marker (M) on the screen (26) the two distance measurements mentioned above.represents locally adjacent sampling points.