System uses ordinary light to reproduce 3D surfaces

Citation

(1998), "System uses ordinary light to reproduce 3D surfaces", Sensor Review, Vol. 18 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.1998.08718baf.008

System uses ordinary light to reproduce 3D surfaces

System uses ordinary light to reproduce 3D surfaces

Keywords CamSys, Light, 3D

A PC-based surface measurement system that is said to be more cost-effective than laser-based scanning systems and more efficient than manual photo-based systems, has been developed by CamSys Inc., Troy, New York. The system, called SurfaceGen, involves the use of ordinary light and digital cameras to reproduce 3D surfaces of real objects automatically. Unique capabilities of this system, which saves hours of labour time, include automatic camera calibration, automatic 2D point correspondence, and automatic surface generation. Automatic camera calibration is accomplished by capturing images of a specially designed and constructed photogrammetry target; the images are than processed using CamSys's innovative software. SurfaceGen's automatic 2D point correspondence significantly improves accuracy over modelling methods that require manual correspondence. Accuracy is improved by reducing the human error associated with matching surfaces which lack features. Surfaces are generated automatically through the use of new techniques for creating a triangular mesh of 3D surface geometries from a set of 3D points. Several techniques are available, depending on the size and shape of the object. Since SurfaceGen is PC-based, it is more cost effective than commercial workstation-based systems. A start-up price in the neighbourhood of $25,000 includes the following basic system components: colour image capture module with tripod; colour image processing board; specially designed and constructed photogrammetry target; SurfaceGen software; and Pentium Pro-based PC with Windows 95 or Window NT. (Douglas Prinn, CamSys Inc., 1223 Peoples Avenue, Troy, New York, 12180-3590, USA. Tel: +44 1 518/276-4082.