Profilometer Measurement Body for 3D Position and Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the position and orientation of objects in three-dimensional space are hindered by sensor sensitivity to impacts and vibrations, require multiple sensors, and face spatial constraints in applications like engine compartments of motor vehicles, limiting the capture of slow movements and rotations.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a measurement body with a polyhedral shape scanned by a profilometer to generate a profile line with specific measurement points, allowing for the determination of translations and rotations in three-dimensional space using fewer sensors and reducing spatial requirements, by evaluating coordinate sets and known geometry to determine displacements and rotations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are used to capture displacements and rotations by measuring linear accelerations and rotation rates, then position and orientation can be determined, but the sensors are sensitive to impacts and vibrations causing signal drift and require frequent calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical sensors (accelerometers and gyroscopes) with an optical measurement system using a camera and image processing. The camera captures images of the measurement body, and software algorithms determine position and orientation from these images, eliminating the sensitivity issues of mechanical sensors to vibrations and impacts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy (image) of the measurement body and processes this copy to extract position and orientation information. Instead of directly measuring physical quantities with sensors, the system captures an optical representation and derives spatial information through image analysis, avoiding direct sensor exposure to harsh environmental conditions
2Measurement precision
If three sensors for spatial axes and three further sensors for angular measurement are used, then complete position and orientation data can be captured, but the requirement for access from three sides and the number of sensors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single measurement body multi-functional by designing it with features that enable determination of all six degrees of freedom (three translational and three rotational) from a single viewpoint. The measurement body contains multiple measurement points with known spatial relationships that collectively provide information about the entire object's position and orientation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from using multiple sensors in three-dimensional space to using a two-dimensional image plane. A single camera captures a 2D projection that contains encoded information about 3D position and orientation, effectively compressing the measurement requirements into another dimension (the image plane)
3Measurement precision
If optical triangulation measurements with two cameras are used, then displacement in all three spatial axes and rotation about all three axes can be determined, but the minimum spacing requirements between cameras and from the object entail high spatial requirements not available in engine compartments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential measurement information into a compact measurement body that can be viewed from a single location. Instead of requiring two cameras spaced apart to achieve the same measurement capability, the measurement body is designed to encode all necessary spatial information in a form that can be captured from one viewpoint
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests multiple measurement points with known spatial relationships within a compact measurement body. This nested structure allows a single camera to capture information about multiple reference points simultaneously, effectively packing the measurement functionality into a small space that fits within constrained environments like engine compartments
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 precise and efficient determination of object displacements and rotations in three-dimensional space with reduced sensor requirements and spatial constraints, improving measurement accuracy and accessibility in constrained environments.
Implementation Method 1
The scan-plane of a profilometer projected onto the measurement body detects or makes available a profile line
Data Source
AI summary
A method of determining position and orientation of an object using a profilometer. A measurement body has a predetermined polyhedral basic form and a defined spatial relationship with the object. The profilometer captures rectilinear coordinates of at least three measurement points lying on a profile line defined by a profilometer scan-line. Using the coordinates and measurement body geometric values, rotations of the measurement body are calculated about a measurement body z-axis, an intermediate y-axis resulting from the z-axis rotation, and about a profilometer-defined x-axis. Next, three translation displacements of the measurement body relative to the three profilometer-defined axes are calculated using the coordinates, the geometric values of the measurement body, and the above-calculated rotations. The position and an orientation of the object is determined by then applying the defined spatial relationship of the measurement body to the object.