Virtual Camera Image Generation for Camera Location Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for estimating the location and orientation of a camera when an image was shot are time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that generates a virtual camera image based on three-dimensional point cloud data to estimate the camera's location and orientation by comparing it with actual camera images, using point cloud data to determine the location and orientation of virtual cameras in a three-dimensional space and matching features to refine the estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional camera location and orientation estimation techniques are used, then measurement precision is achieved, but processing time is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-generates multiple virtual camera images from point cloud data at various candidate locations and orientations before actual camera image analysis. This preliminary preparation creates a reference database that accelerates the subsequent estimation process, avoiding the need to perform complex 3D reconstruction and image generation during real-time processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of camera images by rendering synthetic images from point cloud data at predetermined locations and orientations. These virtual camera images serve as reference copies that can be quickly compared with actual camera images to estimate camera position and orientation, replacing time-consuming traditional reconstruction methods.
2Productivity
If virtual camera images are generated from point cloud data, then processing speed is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The estimation process is divided into distinct segments: (1) generating virtual camera images at multiple candidate locations and orientations, (2) extracting features from both virtual and actual images, (3) comparing features to determine the best match. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently and facilitates parallel processing to reduce overall computational burden.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of generating virtual images at all possible camera positions, the system generates images only at a有限的 set of candidate locations and orientations that are most likely to match the actual camera position. This partial action approach reduces computational complexity while maintaining estimation accuracy by focusing resources on the most probable solutions.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to: generate a virtual camera image shot by a virtual camera in a specific location and orientation in a three-dimensional space on the basis of point cloud data of the three-dimensional space; and estimate, on the basis of the virtual camera image, a camera image shot by a camera, and the point cloud data, a location of the camera when it shot the camera image from a location in the same space as the specific location in the three-dimensional space.