Survey Data Processing Device for Automatic Point Cloud Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for determining correspondence relationships between multiple pieces of point cloud data obtained at different instrument points using laser scanners are inefficient and require manual operation, leading to increased calculation time and potential inaccuracies.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a survey data processing device that automatically adjusts and integrates point cloud data by cutting sections horizontally and vertically to align them in a common coordinate system, allowing for easier matching and integration of data from multiple instrument points without requiring precise exterior orientation parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If exterior orientation parameters are obtained to enable easy merging of point cloud data, then merging becomes simple, but the process requires additional operations to obtain parameters at each instrument point

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of merging point cloud dataVSAvoidcomplexity of obtaining exterior orientation parameters
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary information (vertical direction and horizontal position) from the full exterior orientation parameters. By using the vertical direction detected by the attitude detector and horizontal position from coordinate information, the system obtains sufficient data for merging without requiring complete exterior orientation parameters, thus simplifying the process while maintaining effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using attitude detection and coordinate information as intermediate steps. Instead of directly obtaining full exterior orientation parameters, the system uses these intermediate measurements to achieve the same merging objective with reduced complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If template matching or software processing is used to match point cloud data, then correspondence relationships can be determined, but unnecessary calculations increase and accuracy decreases without rough matching in advance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of matching point cloud dataVSAvoidcalculation time for software processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by detecting the vertical direction and horizontal position before the actual matching process. This preliminary information preparation enables more efficient subsequent processing and improves accuracy without requiring extensive rough matching operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex software-based template matching with a more efficient approach based on geometric relationships derived from attitude detection and coordinate information. This substitution reduces computational burden while maintaining or improving matching accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If manual selection of corresponding points is performed, then precise matching can be achieved, but working efficiency in finding corresponding points is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of matching point cloud dataVSAvoidworking efficiency of finding corresponding points
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the system to automatically determine correspondence relationships using attitude detection and coordinate information without requiring manual operator intervention. The system serves itself by computing the relationships between instrument points and matching point cloud data autonomously, thus achieving both precision and high productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3628966B1Survey data processing device, method and program
Publication Date: 2022.06.15 TOPCON CORPORATION
  • EP3628966B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3628966B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3628966B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A survey data processing device includes a point cloud data receiving unit, a vertically cut section generating unit, and a vertical position adjusting unit. The point cloud data receiving unit receives first point cloud data and second point cloud data that are respectively obtained at a first instrument point and a second instrument point. The vertically cut section generating unit cuts the first point cloud data and the second point cloud data at a vertical plane containing the first instrument point and the second instrument point to obtain a vertically cut section of each of the first point cloud data and the second point cloud data. The vertical position adjusting unit matches vertical positions of the vertically cut sections of the first point cloud data and the second point cloud data as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the vertical plane.