U.S. patent application number 16/240843 was filed with the patent office on 2019-05-09 for mobile three-dimensional measuring instrument.
The applicant listed for this patent is FARO Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Bernd-Dietmar Becker, Robert E. Bridges, Hamidreza Rajaie, Oliver Zweigle.
Application Number | 20190137627 16/240843 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56937290 |
Filed Date | 2019-05-09 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190137627 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zweigle; Oliver ; et
al. |
May 9, 2019 |
MOBILE THREE-DIMENSIONAL MEASURING INSTRUMENT
Abstract
A mobile three-dimensional (3D) measuring system includes a 3D
measuring device, a multi-legged stand coupled to the 3D measuring
device, and a motorized dolly detachably coupled to the
multi-legged stand.
Inventors: |
Zweigle; Oliver; (Stuttgart,
DE) ; Becker; Bernd-Dietmar; (Ludwigsburg, DE)
; Rajaie; Hamidreza; (Stuttgart, DE) ; Bridges;
Robert E.; (Kennett Square, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FARO Technologies, Inc. |
Lake Mary |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56937290 |
Appl. No.: |
16/240843 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15084751 |
Mar 30, 2016 |
10175360 |
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16240843 |
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62140706 |
Mar 31, 2015 |
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62140716 |
Mar 31, 2015 |
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62140733 |
Mar 31, 2015 |
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62140743 |
Mar 31, 2015 |
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62140756 |
Mar 31, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 84/12 20130101;
G01S 17/86 20200101; G01S 17/48 20130101; G01S 17/42 20130101; H04W
4/70 20180201; G01S 17/66 20130101; G01S 17/36 20130101; G01S 17/89
20130101; G01S 7/4813 20130101; G01S 17/10 20130101; G01B 11/2518
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01S 17/89 20060101
G01S017/89; G01S 17/66 20060101 G01S017/66; G01S 17/02 20060101
G01S017/02; G01S 7/481 20060101 G01S007/481; G01B 11/25 20060101
G01B011/25; H04W 4/70 20060101 H04W004/70; G01S 17/42 20060101
G01S017/42 |
Claims
1. A mobile three-dimensional (3D) measuring system, comprising: a
3D measuring device; a stand having a plurality of legs coupled to
the 3D measuring device, wherein the stand includes a plurality of
motorized wheels configured to propel and turn the stand under
computer system control; and a motorized dolly detachably coupled
to the stand; a position sensor configured to obtain a position of
the 3D measuring device; a computer system in communication with
the 3D measuring system, wherein the computer system is configured
to control the motorized dolly based at least in part on data from
the position sensor.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the motorized dolly is configured
to move forward or backward and to rotate.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the motorized dolly is configured
to fold into a compact shape.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the 3D measuring device is a
time-of-flight scanner.
5. The system of claim 1, further including a sensor configured for
obstacle avoidance.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor is selected from the
group consisting of a two-dimensional (2D) scanner, a 3D scanner
that directs light in a horizontal plane, a 2D camera, a 3D depth
camera, and an ultrasound sensor.
7. The system of claim 4, wherein the 3D measuring device emits a
collimated beam of light.
8. The system of claim 4, wherein the 3D measuring device emits a
focused beam of light.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the 3D measuring device is
configured to measure 3D coordinates of a tooling ball.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the 3D measuring device is a
laser tracker or a total station.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the 3D measuring device is
configured to measure 3D coordinates of a retroreflector.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the 3D measuring device is
further configured to measure 3D coordinates of a diffuse
surface.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the 3D measuring device is
further configured for wireless communication, wherein the wireless
communication is based on at least one of an IEEE 802.11 standard
or a cellular communication.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein the stand is a tripod.
15. The system of claim 1, wherein the motorized dolly includes two
wheels that turn, each wheel connected to an axle driven by a
motor, wherein a rotation of the motor is measured by an angular
encoder.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the motorized dolly includes
independent motors attached to each axle.
17. The system of claim 1, wherein the motorized dolly further
includes one or more extensions to which a sensor may be
attached.
18. A method, comprising: providing a mobile three-dimensional (3D)
measuring system including a 3D time-of-flight (TOF) scanner
coupled to a first motorized stand and to a plurality of targets,
the first motorized stand including a plurality of motorized wheels
configured to propel and turn the first motorized stand under
computer control; providing a first image sensor in an environment;
providing a computer system in communication with the mobile 3D
measuring system and the first image sensor; obtaining with the
first image sensor a first image of the plurality of targets;
determining by the computer system a first position of the mobile
3D measuring system within an environment frame of reference, the
first position based at least in part on the first image; providing
the first position to the mobile 3D measuring system; and
determining by the mobile 3D measuring system its position within
the environment frame of reference based at least in part on the
provided first position; projecting a beam of scanner light from
the 3D TOF scanner onto an object; measuring with the 3D TOF
scanner, in response to the projected beam of scanner light, first
3D coordinates of a first point on the object; determining 3D
coordinates of the first point in the environment frame of
reference based at least in part on the first 3D coordinates of the
first point and on the first position of the mobile 3D measuring
system in the environment frame of reference; and storing the first
3D coordinates of the first point in the environment frame of
reference.
19. A mobile three-dimensional (3D) measuring system, comprising: a
3D measuring device; a stand having a plurality of legs coupled to
the 3D measuring device, wherein the stand includes a plurality of
motorized wheels configured to propel and turn the stand under
computer system control; and a motorized dolly detachably coupled
to the stand; an image sensor configured to obtain an image from a
plurality of targets; a computer system in communication with the
3D measuring system and the image sensor, wherein the computer
system is configured to control the motorized dolly.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer system is
configured to control the 3D measuring system upon completion of a
first scan by the 3D measuring device at a first position, perform
a second scan when the 3D measuring system beings to move to a
second position.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/084,751 filed Mar. 30, 2016 which claims
the benefit of U.S. Application No. 62/140,706 filed Mar. 31, 2015,
of U.S. Application No. 62/140,716, filed Mar. 31, 2015, of U.S.
Application No. 62/140,733, filed Mar. 31, 2015, of U.S.
Application No. 62/140,743, filed Mar. 31, 2015, and of U.S.
Application No. 62/140,756, filed Mar. 31, 2015, the contents all
of which are incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a motorized tripod, which
may be used to hold a three-dimensional (3D) measuring instrument.
The subject matter disclosed herein relates particularly to a 3D
laser scanner time-of-flight (TOF) coordinate measurement device. A
3D laser scanner of this type steers a beam of light to a
non-cooperative target such as a diffusely scattering surface of an
object. A distance meter in the device measures a distance to the
object, and angular encoders measure the angles of rotation of two
axles in the device. The measured distance and two angles enable a
processor in the device to determine the 3D coordinates of the
target.
[0003] A TOF laser scanner (or simply TOF scanner) is a scanner in
which the distance to a target point is determined based on the
speed of light in air between the scanner and a target point. Laser
scanners are typically used for scanning closed or open spaces such
as interior areas of buildings, industrial installations and
tunnels. They may be used, for example, in industrial applications
and accident reconstruction applications. A laser scanner optically
scans and measures objects in a volume around the scanner through
the acquisition of data points representing object surfaces within
the volume. Such data points are obtained by transmitting a beam of
light onto the objects and collecting the reflected or scattered
light to determine the distance, two-angles (i.e., an azimuth and a
zenith angle), and optionally a gray-scale value. This raw scan
data is collected, stored and sent to a processor or processors to
generate a 3D image representing the scanned area or object.
[0004] Generating an image requires at least three values for each
data point. These three values may include the distance and two
angles, or may be transformed values, such as the x, y, z
coordinates. In an embodiment, an image is also based on a fourth
gray-scale value, which is a value related to irradiance of
scattered light returning to the scanner.
[0005] Most TOF scanners direct the beam of light within the
measurement volume by steering the light with a beam steering
mechanism. The beam steering mechanism includes a first motor that
steers the beam of light about a first axis by a first angle that
is measured by a first angular encoder (or other angle transducer).
The beam steering mechanism also includes a second motor that
steers the beam of light about a second axis by a second angle that
is measured by a second angular encoder (or other angle
transducer).
[0006] Many contemporary laser scanners include a camera mounted on
the laser scanner for gathering camera digital images of the
environment and for presenting the camera digital images to an
operator of the laser scanner. By viewing the camera images, the
operator of the scanner can determine the field of view of the
measured volume and adjust settings on the laser scanner to measure
over a larger or smaller region of space. In addition, the camera
digital images may be transmitted to a processor to add color to
the scanner image. To generate a color scanner image, at least
three positional coordinates (such as x, y, z) and three color
values (such as red, green, blue "RGB") are collected for each data
point.
[0007] A 3D image of a scene may require multiple scans from
different registration positions. The overlapping scans are
registered in a joint coordinate system, for example, as described
in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2012/0069352 ('352), the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Such
registration is performed by matching targets in overlapping
regions of the multiple scans. The targets may be artificial
targets such as spheres or checkerboards or they may be natural
features such as corners or edges of walls. Some registration
procedures involve relatively time-consuming manual procedures such
as identifying by a user each target and matching the targets
obtained by the scanner in each of the different registration
positions. Some registration procedures also require establishing
an external "control network" of registration targets measured by
an external device such as a total station. The registration method
disclosed in '352 eliminates the need for user matching of
registration targets and establishing of a control network.
[0008] A TOF laser scanner is usually mounted on a tripod or
instrument stand while measuring 3D coordinates of its
surroundings. An operator is required to move the tripod from
location to location as measurements are taken. In many cases,
post-processing is required to properly register the 3D coordinate
data. The operational and post-processing steps can be time
consuming.
[0009] Accordingly, while existing 3D scanners are suitable for
their intended purposes, there is a need for apparatus and methods
providing greater efficiency in 3D measurement according to certain
features of embodiments of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, a mobile
three-dimensional (3D) measuring system includes a 3D measuring
device; a multi-legged stand coupled to the 3D measuring device;
and a motorized dolly detachably coupled to the multi-legged
stand.
[0011] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method
includes: providing a mobile three-dimensional (3D) measuring
system including a 3D time-of-flight (TOF) scanner coupled to a
first motorized stand and to a plurality of targets, the first
motorized stand including a plurality of motorized wheels
configured to propel and turn the first motorized stand under
computer control; providing a first image sensor in an environment;
providing a computer system in communication with the mobile 3D
measuring system and the first image sensor; obtaining with the
first image sensor a first image of the plurality of targets;
determining by the computer system a first position of the mobile
3D measuring system within an environment frame of reference, the
first position based at least in part on the first image; providing
the first position to the mobile 3D measuring system; and
determining by the mobile 3D measuring system its position within
the environment frame of reference based at least in part on the
provided first position; projecting a beam of scanner light from
the 3D TOF scanner onto an object; measuring with the 3D TOF
scanner, in response to the projected beam of scanner light, first
3D coordinates of a first point on the object; determining 3D
coordinates of the first point in the environment frame of
reference based at least in part on the first 3D coordinates of the
first point and on the first position of the mobile 3D measuring
system in the environment frame of reference; and storing the first
3D coordinates of the first point in the environment frame of
reference.
[0012] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method
includes: providing a mobile three-dimensional (3D) measuring
system including a 3D time-of-flight (TOF) scanner coupled to a
first retroreflector, a second retroreflector, a third
retroreflector, and a first motorized stand, the first motorized
stand including a plurality of motorized wheels configured to
propel and turn the first motorized stand under computer control;
providing a 3D measuring device in a first device frame of
reference, the 3D measuring device configured to steer a device
beam of light onto a retroreflector target, to measure a distance,
a first angle, and a second angle from the 3D measuring device to
the retroreflector target, and to determine 3D coordinates of the
retroreflector target based at least on the measured distance, the
measured first angle, and the measured second angle; activating the
first motorized stand to move the mobile 3D measuring system to a
first position; projecting a beam of scanner light from the 3D TOF
scanner onto an object; measuring with the 3D TOF scanner, in
response to the projected beam of scanner light, first 3D
coordinates of a first point on the object; measuring with the 3D
measuring device first 3D coordinates of the first retroreflector,
first 3D coordinates of the second retroreflector, and first 3D
coordinates of the third retroreflector; determining registered 3D
coordinates of the first point in the first device frame of
reference based at least in part on the measured first 3D
coordinates of the first point on the object, the measured first 3D
coordinates of the first retroreflector, the measured first 3D
coordinates of the second retroreflector, and the measured first 3D
coordinates of the third retroreflector; and storing the registered
3D coordinates of the first point.
[0013] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method
includes: providing a mobile three-dimensional (3D) measuring
system including a 3D scanner coupled to a first retroreflector, a
second retroreflector, a third retroreflector, and a first
motorized stand, the first motorized stand including a plurality of
motorized wheels configured to propel and turn the first motorized
stand under computer control, the 3D scanner including a projector
and a camera, the projector configured to project a pattern of
light, the camera separated from the projector by a baseline
distance; providing a 3D measuring device in a first device frame
of reference, the 3D measuring device configured to steer a beam of
light onto a retroreflector target, to measure a distance, a first
angle, and a second angle from the 3D measuring device to the
retroreflector target, and to determine 3D coordinates of the
retroreflector target based at least on the measured distance, the
measured first angle, and the measured second angle; activating the
first motorized stand to move the mobile 3D measuring system to a
first position; projecting with the projector a first pattern of
light onto an object; capturing with the camera a first image of
the first pattern of light on the object; determining first
measured 3D coordinates of a first point on the object based at
least in part on the projected first pattern of light, the captured
first image, and the baseline distance; with the 3D measuring
device, determining in the first device frame of reference first 3D
coordinates of the first retroreflector, first 3D coordinates of
the second retroreflector, and first 3D coordinates of the third
retroreflector; determining registered 3D coordinates of the first
point in the first device frame of reference based at least in part
on the first measured 3D coordinates of the first point, the first
3D coordinates of the first retroreflector, the first 3D
coordinates of the second retroreflector, and the first 3D
coordinates of the third retroreflector; and storing the registered
3D coordinates of the first point.
[0014] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method
includes: providing a mobile three-dimensional (3D) measuring
system including a 3D scanner coupled to a first six
degree-of-freedom (six-DOF) retroreflector target and a first
motorized stand, the first motorized stand including a plurality of
motorized wheels configured to propel and turn the first motorized
stand under computer control, the 3D scanner including a projector
and a camera, the projector configured to project a pattern of
light, the camera separated from the projector by a baseline
distance; providing a six-DOF laser tracker configured to determine
six degrees of freedom of a six-DOF retroreflector target;
activating the first motorized stand to move the mobile 3D
measuring system to a first position; projecting with the projector
a first pattern of light onto an object; capturing with the camera
a first image of the first pattern of light on the object;
determining first measured 3D coordinates of a first point on the
object based at least in part on the projected first pattern of
light, the captured first image, and the baseline distance; with
the six-DOF laser tracker, determining in a first device frame of
reference first six-DOF values of the first six-DOF retroreflector
target; determining registered 3D coordinates of the first point in
the first device frame of reference based at least in part on the
first measured 3D coordinates of the first point and the first
six-DOF values of the first six-DOF retroreflector target; and
storing the registered 3D coordinates of the first point.
[0015] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method
includes: providing a mobile three-dimensional (3D) measuring
system including a 3D scanner coupled to a first motorized stand
and to a plurality of targets, the first motorized stand including
a plurality of motorized wheels configured to propel and turn the
first motorized stand under computer control, the 3D scanner
including a projector and a camera, the projector configured to
project a pattern of light, the camera separated from the projector
by a scanner baseline distance; providing a computer system in
communication with the mobile 3D measuring system; providing a
first image sensor in an environment frame of reference; obtaining
with the first image sensor a first image of the plurality of
targets; determining by the computer system a first position of the
mobile 3D measuring system within the environment frame of
reference based at least in part on the first image; providing the
first position to the mobile 3D measuring system; determining by
the mobile 3D measuring system its position within the environment
frame of reference based at least in part on the first position;
and storing the determined position of the 3D measuring system
within the environment frame of reference.
[0016] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method,
includes: providing a mobile three-dimensional (3D) measuring
system that includes a 3D measuring device and a motorized stand;
moving, with the motorized stand, the mobile 3D measuring system to
a first position, measuring with the 3D measuring device 3D
coordinates of a first point on a diffusely scattering surface, and
measuring with the 3D measuring device first 3D coordinates of at
least three cooperative targets; moving, with the motorized stand,
the mobile 3D measuring system to a second position, measuring with
the 3D measuring device 3D coordinates of a second point on the
diffusely scattering surface, and measuring with the 3D measuring
device second 3D coordinates of the at least three cooperative
targets; determining 3D coordinates of the first point and the
second point in a common frame of reference based at least in part
on the measured 3D coordinates of the first point, the measured 3D
coordinates of the second point, the measured first 3D coordinates
of the at least three cooperative targets at the first position,
and the measured second 3D coordinates of the at least three
cooperative targets measured at the second position; and storing
the determined 3D coordinates of the first point and the second
point in the common frame of reference.
[0017] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method
includes: providing a plurality of mobile three-dimensional (3D)
measuring systems, each system including a 3D measuring device and
a motorized stand, each 3D measuring device configured to project
light onto a point and to determine 3D coordinates of the point by
measuring a distance, a first angle, and a second angle to the
point; providing a user interface configured to enable user control
of the plurality of mobile 3D measuring systems; and by an
operator, concurrently directing actions of the plurality of mobile
3D measuring systems through the user interface.
[0018] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method
includes: providing a mobile 3D measuring system including a 3D
measuring device and a motorized stand, the 3D measuring device
configured to project light onto a point and to determine 3D
coordinates of the point by measuring a distance, a first angle,
and a second angle to the point; activating the motorized stand to
locate building elements in need of trim; measuring with the mobile
3D measuring system a size and shape of each required trim element;
and providing a link between building location and trim
dimensions.
[0019] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method
includes: providing a mobile 3D measuring system including a 3D
measuring device and a motorized stand, the 3D measuring device
configured to project light onto a point and to determine 3D
coordinates of the point by measuring a distance, a first angle,
and a second angle to the point; measuring with the mobile 3D
measuring system a size and shape of a floor region; and cutting a
floor covering to the measured sizes and shape of the floor
region.
[0020] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method
includes: providing a mobile 3D measuring system including a 3D
measuring device and a motorized stand, the 3D measuring device
configured to project light onto a point and to determine 3D
coordinates of the point by measuring a distance, a first angle,
and a second angle to the point; obtaining electronics design
plans; scanning a room with the mobile 3D measuring system to
obtain measured 3D information; and generating electronic
information giving detailed shape and size of the countertops based
at least in part on the electronics design plans and the measured
3D information.
[0021] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method
includes: providing a mobile 3D measuring system including a 3D
measuring device and a motorized stand, the motorized stand
configured to move the 3D measuring device under computer control,
the 3D measuring device configured to project light onto a point
and to determine 3D coordinates of the point by measuring a
distance, a first angle, and a second angle to the point, the 3D
measuring device further configured to emit a visible beam of light
as a pointer beam; measuring with the 3D measuring device 3D
coordinates of objects in an environment; providing electronic
plans indicating a desired location of a construction installation
line within the environment; and emitting with the 3D measuring
device the visible beam of light to illuminate the construction
installation line in the environment, the illuminated construction
installation line positioned within the environment based at least
in part on measured 3D coordinates of objects in the environment
and on the electronic plans.
[0022] These and other advantages and features will become more
apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with
the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is
particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at
the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other
features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laser scanner in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a side view of the laser scanner illustrating a
method of measurement;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the optical,
mechanical, and electrical components of the laser scanner;
[0027] FIG. 4 depicts a planar view of a 3D scanned image;
[0028] FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of a panoramic view of a 3D
scanned image generated by mapping a planar view onto a sphere;
[0029] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C depict embodiments of a 3D view of a 3D
scanned image;
[0030] FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of a 3D view made up of an
image of the object of FIG. 6B but viewed from a different
perspective and shown only partially;
[0031] FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a mobile 3D measuring
system according to an embodiment;
[0032] FIGS. 8B, 8C, and 8D are perspective, top and front views,
respectively, of a motorized dolly according to an embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 8E is a perspective view of a motorized dolly folded
into a compact shape according to an embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 8F is a schematic representation of electrical
circuitry in the motorized dolly according to an embodiment;
[0035] FIG. 9A is a front view of a 3D scanner configured to
project light onto a horizontal plane according to an
embodiment;
[0036] FIG. 9B is a block diagram depicting a processor system
according to an embodiment;
[0037] FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of a 3D scanner
measuring an object from two registration positions according to an
embodiment;
[0038] FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of a 3D scanner
measuring the object by scanning along a horizontal plane from a
plurality of intermediate positions according to an embodiment;
[0039] FIG. 12 shows a 3D scanner capturing portions of the object
by scanning along a horizontal plane from a plurality of positions
according to an embodiment;
[0040] FIG. 13 shows the 3D scanner capturing portions of the
object by scanning along a horizontal plane from a plurality of
positions, as seen from a frame of reference of the 3D scanner,
according to an embodiment;
[0041] FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C illustrate a method for finding
changes in the position and orientation of the 3D scanner over time
according to an embodiment;
[0042] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a mobile 3D measuring
system according to an embodiment;
[0043] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a mobile 3D measuring
system with external camera sensors according to an embodiment;
[0044] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a mobile 3D measuring
system with external laser tracker sensor according to an
embodiment;
[0045] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a mobile 3D measuring
system according to an embodiment;
[0046] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a mobile 3D measuring
system used to measure an object according to an embodiment;
[0047] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a mobile 3D measuring
system according to an embodiment;
[0048] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a first mobile 3D measuring
system used to measure an object and a second mobile 3D measuring
system used to assist in registration of the first mobile 3D
measuring system according to an embodiment; and
[0049] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a mobile 3D measuring
system used to measure an object while external camera sensors
assist in registration according to an embodiment.
[0050] The detailed description explains embodiments of the
invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example
with reference to the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0051] The present invention relates to a device that includes a 3D
scanner and a two-dimensional (2D) scanner working cooperatively to
provide automatic registration of 3D scans.
[0052] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a laser scanner 20 is shown for
optically scanning and measuring the environment surrounding the
laser scanner 20. The laser scanner 20 has a measuring head 22 and
a base 24. The measuring head 22 is mounted on the base 24 such
that the laser scanner 20 may be rotated about a vertical axis 23.
In one embodiment, the measuring head 22 includes a gimbal point 27
that is a center of rotation about the vertical axis 23 and a
horizontal axis 25. The measuring head 22 has a rotary mirror 26,
which may be rotated about the horizontal axis 25. The rotation
about the vertical axis may be about the center of the base 24. The
terms vertical axis and horizontal axis refer to the scanner in its
normal upright position. It is possible to operate a 3D coordinate
measurement device on its side or upside down, and so to avoid
confusion, the terms azimuth axis and zenith axis may be
substituted for the terms vertical axis and horizontal axis,
respectively. The term pan axis or standing axis may also be used
as an alternative to vertical axis.
[0053] The measuring head 22 is further provided with an
electromagnetic radiation emitter, such as light emitter 28, for
example, that emits an emitted light beam 30. In one embodiment,
the emitted light beam 30 is a coherent light beam such as a laser
beam. The laser beam may have a wavelength range of approximately
300 to 1600 nanometers, for example 790 nanometers, 905 nanometers,
1550 nanometers, or less than 400 nanometers. It should be
appreciated that other electromagnetic radiation beams having
greater or smaller wavelengths may also be used. The emitted light
beam 30 is amplitude or intensity modulated, for example, with a
sinusoidal waveform or with a rectangular waveform. The emitted
light beam 30 is emitted by the light emitter 28 onto the rotary
mirror 26, where it is deflected to the environment. A reflected
light beam 32 is reflected from the environment by an object 34.
The reflected or scattered light is intercepted by the rotary
mirror 26 and directed into a light receiver 36. The directions of
the emitted light beam 30 and the reflected light beam 32 result
from the angular positions of the rotary mirror 26 and the
measuring head 22 about the axes 25 and 23, respectively. These
angular positions in turn depend on the corresponding rotary drives
or motors.
[0054] Coupled to the light emitter 28 and the light receiver 36 is
a controller 38. The controller 38 determines, for a multitude of
measuring points X, a corresponding number of distances d between
the laser scanner 20 and the points X on object 34. The distance to
a particular point X is determined based at least in part on the
speed of light in air through which electromagnetic radiation
propagates from the device to the object point X. In one embodiment
the phase shift of modulation in light emitted by the laser scanner
20 and the point X is determined and evaluated to obtain a measured
distance d.
[0055] The speed of light in air depends on the properties of the
air such as the air temperature, barometric pressure, relative
humidity, and concentration of carbon dioxide. Such air properties
influence the index of refraction n of the air. The speed of light
in air is equal to the speed of light in vacuum c divided by the
index of refraction. In other words, c.sub.air=c/n. A laser scanner
of the type discussed herein is based on the time-of-flight (TOF)
of the light in the air (the round-trip time for the light to
travel from the device to the object and back to the device).
Examples of TOF scanners include scanners that measure round trip
time using the time interval between emitted and returning pulses
(pulsed TOF scanners), scanners that modulate light sinusoidally
and measure phase shift of the returning light (phase-based
scanners), as well as many other types. A method of measuring
distance based on the time-of-flight of light depends on the speed
of light in air and is therefore easily distinguished from methods
of measuring distance based on triangulation. Triangulation-based
methods involve projecting light from a light source along a
particular direction and then intercepting the light on a camera
pixel along a particular direction. By knowing the distance between
the camera and the projector and by matching a projected angle with
a received angle, the method of triangulation enables the distance
to the object to be determined based on one known length and two
known angles of a triangle. The method of triangulation, therefore,
does not directly depend on the speed of light in air.
[0056] In one mode of operation, the scanning of the volume around
the laser scanner 20 takes place by rotating the rotary mirror 26
about axis 25 relatively quickly while rotating the measuring head
22 about axis 23 relatively slowly, thereby moving the assembly in
a spiral pattern. In an exemplary embodiment, the rotary mirror
rotates at a maximum speed of 5820 revolutions per minute. For such
a scan, the gimbal point 27 defines the origin of the local
stationary reference system. The base 24 rests in this local
stationary reference system.
[0057] In addition to measuring a distance d from the gimbal point
27 to an object point X, the scanner 20 may also collect gray-scale
information related to the received optical power (equivalent to
the term "brightness.") The gray-scale value may be determined at
least in part, for example, by integration of the bandpass-filtered
and amplified signal in the light receiver 36 over a measuring
period attributed to the object point X.
[0058] The measuring head 22 may include a display device 40
integrated into the laser scanner 20. The display device 40 may
include a graphical touch screen 41, as shown in FIG. 1, which
allows the operator to set the parameters or initiate the operation
of the laser scanner 20. For example, the screen 41 may have a user
interface that allows the operator to provide measurement
instructions to the device, and the screen may also display
measurement results.
[0059] The laser scanner 20 includes a carrying structure 42 that
provides a frame for the measuring head 22 and a platform for
attaching the components of the laser scanner 20. In one
embodiment, the carrying structure 42 is made from a metal such as
aluminum. The carrying structure 42 includes a traverse member 44
having a pair of walls 46, 48 on opposing ends. The walls 46, 48
are parallel to each other and extend in a direction opposite the
base 24. Shells 50, 52 are coupled to the walls 46, 48 and cover
the components of the laser scanner 20. In the exemplary
embodiment, the shells 50, 52 are made from a plastic material,
such as polycarbonate or polyethylene for example. The shells 50,
52 cooperate with the walls 46, 48 to form a housing for the laser
scanner 20.
[0060] On an end of the shells 50, 52 opposite the walls 46, 48 a
pair of yokes 54, 56 are arranged to partially cover the respective
shells 50, 52. In the exemplary embodiment, the yokes 54, 56 are
made from a suitably durable material, such as aluminum for
example, that assists in protecting the shells 50, 52 during
transport and operation. The yokes 54, 56 each includes a first arm
portion 58 that is coupled, such as with a fastener for example, to
the traverse 44 adjacent the base 24. The arm portion 58 for each
yoke 54, 56 extends from the traverse 44 obliquely to an outer
corner of the respective shell 50, 54. From the outer corner of the
shell, the yokes 54, 56 extend along the side edge of the shell to
an opposite outer corner of the shell. Each yoke 54, 56 further
includes a second arm portion that extends obliquely to the walls
46, 48. It should be appreciated that the yokes 54, 56 may be
coupled to the traverse 42, the walls 46, 48 and the shells 50, 54
at multiple locations.
[0061] The pair of yokes 54, 56 cooperate to circumscribe a convex
space within which the two shells 50, 52 are arranged. In the
exemplary embodiment, the yokes 54, 56 cooperate to cover all of
the outer edges of the shells 50, 54, while the top and bottom arm
portions project over at least a portion of the top and bottom
edges of the shells 50, 52. This provides advantages in protecting
the shells 50, 52 and the measuring head 22 from damage during
transportation and operation. In other embodiments, the yokes 54,
56 may include additional features, such as handles to facilitate
the carrying of the laser scanner 20 or attachment points for
accessories for example.
[0062] On top of the traverse 44, a prism 60 is provided. The prism
extends parallel to the walls 46, 48. In the exemplary embodiment,
the prism 60 is integrally formed as part of the carrying structure
42. In other embodiments, the prism 60 is a separate component that
is coupled to the traverse 44. When the mirror 26 rotates, during
each rotation the mirror 26 directs the emitted light beam 30 onto
the traverse 44 and the prism 60. Due to non-linearities in the
electronic components, for example in the light receiver 36, the
measured distances d may depend on signal strength, which may be
measured in optical power entering the scanner or optical power
entering optical detectors within the light receiver 36, for
example. In an embodiment, a distance correction is stored in the
scanner as a function (possibly a nonlinear function) of distance
to a measured point and optical power (generally unscaled quantity
of light power sometimes referred to as "brightness") returned from
the measured point and sent to an optical detector in the light
receiver 36. Since the prism 60 is at a known distance from the
gimbal point 27, the measured optical power level of light
reflected by the prism 60 may be used to correct distance
measurements for other measured points, thereby allowing for
compensation to correct for the effects of environmental variables
such as temperature. In the exemplary embodiment, the resulting
correction of distance is performed by the controller 38.
[0063] In an embodiment, the base 24 is coupled to a swivel
assembly (not shown) housed within the carrying structure 42. It
includes a motor configured to rotate the measuring head 22 about
the axis 23.
[0064] An auxiliary image acquisition device 66 may be a device
that captures and measures a parameter associated with the scanned
volume or the scanned object and provides a signal representing the
measured quantities over an image acquisition area. The auxiliary
image acquisition device 66 may be, but is not limited to, a
pyrometer, a thermal imager, an ionizing radiation detector, or a
millimeter-wave detector.
[0065] In an embodiment, a camera (first image acquisition device)
112 is located internally to the scanner and may have the same
optical axis as the 3D scanner device. In this embodiment, the
first image acquisition device 112 is integrated into the measuring
head 22 and arranged to acquire images along the same optical
pathway as emitted light beam 30 and reflected light beam 32. In
this embodiment, the light from the light emitter 28 reflects off a
fixed mirror 116 and travels to dichroic beam-splitter 118 that
reflects the light 117 from the light emitter 28 onto the rotary
mirror 26. The dichroic beam-splitter 118 allows light to pass
through at wavelengths different than the wavelength of light 117.
For example, the light emitter 28 may be a near infrared laser
light (for example, light at wavelengths of 780 nm or 1150 nm),
with the dichroic beam-splitter 118 configured to reflect the
infrared laser light while allowing visible light (e.g.,
wavelengths of 400 to 700 nm) to transmit through. In other
embodiments, the determination of whether the light passes through
the beam-splitter 118 or is reflected depends on the polarization
of the light. The digital camera 112 takes 2D photographic images
of the scanned area to capture color data to add to the scanned
image. In the case of a built-in color camera having an optical
axis coincident with that of the 3D scanning device, the direction
of the camera view may be easily obtained by simply adjusting the
steering mechanisms of the scanner--for example, by adjusting the
azimuth angle about the axis 23 and by steering the mirror 26 about
the axis 25.
[0066] FIG. 4 depicts an example of a planar view of a 3D scanned
image 400. The planar view depicted in FIG. 4 maps an image based
on direct mapping of data collected by the scanner. The scanner
collects data in a spherical pattern but with data points collected
near the poles more tightly compressed than those collected nearer
the horizon. In other words, each point collected near a pole
represents a smaller solid angle than does each point collected
nearer the horizon. Since data from the scanner may be directly
represented in rows and column, data in a planar image is
conveniently presented in a rectilinear format, as shown in FIG. 4.
With planar mapping described above, straight lines appear to be
curved, as for example the straight fence railings 420 that appear
curved in the planar view of the 3D image. The planar view may be a
3D unprocessed scanned image displaying just the gray-scale values
received from the distance sensor arranged in columns and rows as
they were recorded. In addition, the 3D unprocessed scanned image
of the planar view may be in full resolution or reduced resolution
depending on system characteristics (e.g., display device, storage,
processor). The planar view may be a 3D processed scanned image
that depicts either gray-scale values (resulting from the light
irradiance measured by the distance sensor for each pixel) or color
values (resulting from camera images which have been mapped onto
the scan). Although the planar view extracted from the 3D scanner
is ordinarily a gray-scale or color image, FIG. 4 is shown as a
line drawing for clarity in document reproduction. The user
interface associated with the display unit, which may be integral
to the laser scanner, may provide a point selection mechanism,
which in FIG. 4 is the cursor 410. The point selection mechanism
may be used to reveal dimensional information about the volume of
space being measured by the laser scanner. In FIG. 4, the row and
column at the location of the cursor are indicated on the display
at 430. The two measured angles and one measured distance (the 3D
coordinates in a spherical coordinate system) at the cursor
location are indicated on the display at 440. Cartesian XYZ
coordinate representations of the cursor location are indicated on
the display at 450.
[0067] FIG. 5 depicts an example of a panoramic view of a 3D
scanned image 600 generated by mapping a planar view onto a sphere,
or in some cases a cylinder. A panoramic view can be a 3D processed
scanned image (such as that shown in FIG. 5) in which 3D
information (e.g., 3D coordinates) is available. The panoramic view
may be in full resolution or reduced resolution depending on system
characteristics. It should be pointed out that an image such as
FIG. 5 is a 2D image that represents a 3D scene when viewed from a
particular perspective. In this sense, the image of FIG. 5 is much
like an image that might be captured by a 2D camera or a human eye.
Although the panoramic view extracted from the 3D scanner is
ordinarily a gray-scale or color image, FIG. 5 is shown as a line
drawing for clarity in document reproduction.
[0068] The term panoramic view refers to a display in which angular
movement is generally possible about a point in space, but
translational movement is not possible (for a single panoramic
image). In contrast, the term 3D view as used herein refers to
generally refers to a display in which provision is made (through
user controls) to enable not only rotation about a fixed point but
also translational movement from point to point in space.
[0069] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C depict an example of a 3D view of a 3D
scanned image. In the 3D view a user can leave the origin of the
scan and see the scan points from different viewpoints and angles.
The 3D view is an example of a 3D processed scanned image. The 3D
view may be in full resolution or reduced resolution depending on
system characteristics. In addition, the 3D view allows multiple
registered scans to be displayed in one view. FIG. 6A is a 3D view
710 over which a selection mask 730 has been placed by a user. FIG.
6B is a 3D view 740 in which only that part of the 3D view 710
covered by the selection mask 730 has been retained. FIG. 6C shows
the same 3D measurement data as in FIG. 6B except as rotated to
obtain a different view. FIG. 7 shows a different view of FIG. 6B,
the view in this instance being obtained from a translation and
rotation of the observer viewpoint, as well as a reduction in
observed area. Although the 3D views extracted from the 3D scanner
are ordinarily a gray-scale or color image, FIGS. 6A-C and 7 are
shown as line drawings for clarity in document reproduction.
[0070] FIG. 8A shows a mobile 3D measuring system 800 that includes
a 3D laser scanner 20 mounted on a motorized tripod assembly 810.
In an embodiment, the motorized tripod assembly 810 includes a
tripod 812 mounted on a motorized dolly 820. Motorized dolly 820
includes clamps 822 to hold tripod legs in contact with the legs
824 of the motorized dolly 820. As shown in the exploded view FIG.
8B, in an embodiment, each of the three dolly legs 824 are attached
to a base plate 825 on one end and to a wheel on the other end. In
an embodiment, two wheels 862A and 862B are motorized and may be
turned independently by motors, while the third wheel 864 is not
motorized and is smaller than the other two. In FIG. 8A, the motors
that drive the wheels 862A, 862B are not visible beneath the wheel
covers 828. Motor assemblies 826A, 826B are used to drive wheels
862A, 862B, respectively, in alternative embodiment of motorized
dolly 820B shown in FIG. 8B. The motor assemblies 826A, 826B drive
the wheels 862A, 862B using motors 827A, 827B attached to axles
863A and 863B, respectively. The wheels may be plastic or rubber.
For transport on uneven surface, rubber wheels may be inflated.
Electrical wires attached to the motor assemblies connect them to a
control and power unit 840. In an embodiment, the electrical wires
are routed from the motor assemblies 826A, 826B to the control and
power unit 840 through hollow dolly legs 824.
[0071] Referring now to FIG. 8F, in an embodiment, control and
power unit 840 includes a rechargeable battery 890 and an
electrical circuit board 880 having a processor 882, a motor
controller 884, an IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) transceiver 886, and a
cellular transceiver 888. In an embodiment, the cellular
transceiver 888 supports 3G and long-term evolution (LTE) formats.
In an embodiment, a first power plug 841 enables recharging of the
rechargeable battery 890 from an AC power source and a second power
plug 842 provides output power from the battery. In an embodiment,
the processor 882 is an Intel NUC processor such as might be found
in a personal computer. The Intel NUC processor is manufactured by
Intel Corporation, with headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. In an
embodiment, the motor controller 884 is a Pololu RoboClaw 2x60A
motor controller, manufactured by Pololu Robotics and Electronics
with headquarters in Las Vegas, Nev. In an embodiment, the motor
controller 884 controls the speed of each wheel 862A, 862B by
sending digital signals 892A, 892B to of the motor assemblies 826A,
826B over a USB interface configured to act as a virtual serial
(COM) port. In an embodiment, the motor assemblies 826A, 826B
include rotary encoders 894A, 894B that measure the rotation of the
wheels 862A, 862B and send encoder signals 893A, 893B to the motor
controller 884. Rotary encoder signals indicate the angle of
rotation of the wheels, from which speed and distance of travel may
be calculated by the processor 882. The encoders 894A, 894B can be
used as odometers to keep track of the total distance traveled by
the mobile 3D measuring system 800. In other embodiments, other
types of odometry sensors are used.
[0072] In an embodiment, conventional wheels such as 862A, 862B are
driven differentially by the separate motor assemblies 826A, 826B.
If the electrical signals provided by the controller are set to
keep the rate of rotation of the two wheels the same, the motorized
tripod assembly 810 will travel in a straight line. If the
electrical signals provide rotation to one wheel but hold the other
wheel locked, the motorized tripod assembly 810 will turn about the
fixed wheel. Because of differences in the two motors and the
differences in frictional profiles of the two wheels, there may be
a tendency for the motorized tripod assembly 810 to turn one
direction or the other during travel rather than traveling in a
straight line. This tendency to turn can be corrected based on
feedback provided by rotary encoders 894A, 894B in the motor
assemblies 826A and 826B. In an alternative embodiment,
conventional wheels are replaced with wheels that may be driven
sideways as well as straight ahead. Examples of such wheels include
omni wheels and Mecanum wheels.
[0073] In an embodiment, the control and power unit 840 is attached
to the dolly legs 822 using a wing nut 852 and bolt 854 on one
side, as shown in FIG. 8A, and a hook 856 and eye 858 on the other
side, as shown in FIG. 8C. In an embodiment, the control and power
unit 840 includes power outlets 872, such as those shown in FIG.
8A, to provide power to accessories such as a 2D laser scanner, a
triangulation scanner such as a Kinect, a 2D camera, a depth
camera, or an ultrasound sensor. The Kinect device is manufactured
by Microsoft Corporation, with headquarters in Redmond, Wash. A fan
877 is provided to ensure cool operation of the unit 840. In an
embodiment, the battery 890 is configured to provide power to the
laser scanner 20 over the power outlet 878 should the battery of
the scanner 20 run low. The power outlet 879 may be further
configured to receive power to recharge the rechargeable battery
890.
[0074] In an embodiment, the motorized dolly may be folded into a
compact package 895 as shown in FIG. 8E. To obtain the folded
shape, the tripod 812 is removed from the motorized dolly 820, and
the dolly legs 822 that have the large wheels are folded inward
toward the dolly leg 822 that has the small wheel. In an
embodiment, a motorized dolly weighs approximately 1.5 kg.
[0075] In the embodiment of FIGS. 8B, 8C, and 8D, extenders 897A,
897B are attached to motor assemblies 826A, 826B. The purpose of
the extenders is to provide a location on which to attach accessory
devices such as a 2D scanner, a triangulation scanner (for example,
a Kinect or similar device), a 2D camera or a camera capable of
measuring depth as well as two angles. In an embodiment, the
extenders 897A, 897B are connected together to make one long
extender region. In an embodiment, a vertical extender is attached
to the single long extender. An advantage of attaching accessory
devices to extenders rather than tripod legs is that extenders can
be consistently aimed in the direction of movement of the system
800. In cases of obstacle avoidance, this is the preferred
direction for the sensor. In other embodiments, accessory devices
are attached to the 3D measuring device 20. For example, the
element 66 in FIG. 1 may be an accessory device.
[0076] In a first mode, a smart device such as a smartphone,
tablet, or notebook connects to the Wi-Fi network through a
wireless access point. In a second mode, referred to as a client
mode, both the unit 840 and a smart device connect to an external
network. In a third mode, the unit 840 and a smart device connect
to the internet through a cellular channel such as 3G or LTE.
[0077] A smart device such as a smartphone, tablet, or notebook is
used to control the mobile 3D measuring system 800 by running an
app that may have been downloaded from an app store. The app may
include a touchscreen display that provides sensitive joystick
control for moving of the 3D measuring system. The app may also
control measuring and processing of data. Processing of data may
also be handed off to an external computer, for example, to one or
more servers located on a network. In an embodiment, the app
permits locking or unlocking of the motorized wheels when power is
not applied. As stated herein above, one wheel may be locked when a
turn is executed. On the other hand, if the 3D measuring system is
pushed by hand, it is convenient to unlock the wheels.
[0078] The mobile 3D measuring system 800 includes the motorized
dolly 820, which has useful features of simplicity, adaptability,
small size, and light weight. Methods described herein below may
use the mobile 3D measuring system 800. Other embodiments of the
methods described herein below may use other types of motorized 3D
measuring systems. Figures that accompany descriptions of the
methods given herein below usually include the 3D measuring system
800, but it should be understood that alternative motorized
platforms may be used. For example, the motorized dolly 820 may be
configured to include four or more wheels. In an embodiment, the
dolly 820 may be configured to move in a first direction (e.g.
forward), a second direction opposite that of the first direction
(e.g. backward) and also rotate about an axis, such as an axis
passing centrally through the dolly 820 perpendicular to the
surface upon which the dolly 820 rests.
[0079] In a common situation, the system 800 is used to make
several measurements at a plurality of locations. The 3D point
clouds obtained at the plurality of locations are then registered
together. In some embodiments, an operator may use personal
judgment in deciding the optimum locations of the mobile 3D
measuring system 800 to obtain good registrations. In other
embodiments, additional measuring and computing devices may be used
to help select optimal measurement locations and ensure good
registrations. Four examples of using measuring and computing
devices to help select optimal measurement locations and ensure
good registrations are described in U.S. patent application Ser.
Nos. 14/559,290, 14/559,311, 14/559,335, and 14/559,367, all to
Zweigle et al., the contents all of which are incorporated by
reference.
[0080] A first example of using measuring and computing devices to
help select optimal measurement locations and ensure good
registrations is now described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 14.
FIGS. 9A and 9B show elements incorporated in an embodiment of a
mobile 3D measuring system 800. The embodiment includes a 3D
scanner 20 and a processor system 950.
[0081] The processor system 950 includes one or more processing
elements, which may include a 3D scanner processor (controller) 38,
an external computer 970, and a cloud computer 980. The processors
may be microprocessors, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs),
digital signal processors (DSPs), and generally any device capable
of performing computing functions. The one or more processors have
access to memory for storing information. In an embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 9B, the controller 38 represents one or more
processors distributed throughout the 3D scanner 20. Also included
in the embodiment of FIG. 9B are an external computer 970 and one
or more cloud computers 980 for remote computing capability. In an
alternative embodiment, only one or two of the processors 38, 970,
and 980 is provided in the processor system. Communication among
the processors may be through wired links, wireless links, or a
combination of wired and wireless links. In an embodiment, scan
results are uploaded after each scanning session to the cloud
(remote network) for storage and future use. In addition, the
processor system 950 cooperates with processors and other
electrical components in the control and power unit 840 of the
mobile 3D measuring system 800.
[0082] In one mode of operation the 3D scanner 20 measures 2D
coordinates in a horizontal plane. In most cases, it does this by
steering light within a horizontal plane to illuminate object
points in the environment. It collects the reflected (scattered)
light from the object points to determine 2D coordinates of the
object points in the horizontal plane. In an embodiment, the 3D
scanner scans a spot of light and measures the angle of rotation
about the axis 23 with an angular encoder while at the same time
measuring a corresponding distance value to each illuminated object
point in the horizontal plane. The 3D scanner 23 may rotate about
the axis 23 at a relatively high speed while performing no rotation
about the axis 25. In an embodiment, the laser power emitted from
the scanner 20 is set to fall within eye safety limits.
[0083] An optional position/orientation sensor 920 in the 3D
scanner 20 may include inclinometers (accelerometers), gyroscopes,
magnetometers, and altimeters. Usually devices that include one or
more of an inclinometer and gyroscope are referred to as an
inertial measurement unit (IMU). In some cases, the term IMU is
used in a broader sense to include a variety of additional devices
that indicate position and/or orientation--for example,
magnetometers that indicate heading based on changes in magnetic
field direction relative to the earth's magnetic north and
altimeters that indicate altitude (height). An example of a widely
used altimeter is a pressure sensor. By combining readings from a
combination of position/orientation sensors with a fusion algorithm
that may include a Kalman filter, relatively accurate position and
orientation measurements can be obtained using relatively low-cost
sensor devices. The motorized tripod assembly 810 enables the 3D
measuring device 20 to be moved from place to place, typically
along a floor that is approximately horizontal.
[0084] In an embodiment, in one mode of operation, the 3D scanner
20 is configured to scan a beam of light over a range of angles in
a horizontal plane. At instants in time the 3D scanner 20 returns
an angle reading and a corresponding distance reading to provide 2D
coordinates of object points in the horizontal plane. In completing
one scan over the full range of angles, the 3D scanner 20 returns a
collection of paired angle and distance readings. As the mobile 3D
measuring system 800 is moved from place to place, it continues to
return 2D coordinate values in a horizontal plane. These 2D
coordinate values are used to locate the position of the 3D scanner
20 at each stationary registration position, thereby enabling more
accurate registration.
[0085] FIG. 10 shows the mobile 3D measuring system 800 moved to a
first registration position 1112 in front of an object 1102 that is
to be measured. The object 1102 might for example be a wall in a
room. The motorized tripod assembly 810 is brought to a stop with
the wheels held stationary. The 3D scanner 20 in the mobile 3D
measuring system 800 takes a first 3D scan of the object 1102. In
an embodiment, the 3D scanner 20 may if desired obtain 3D
measurements in all directions except in downward directions
blocked by the structure of the 3D measuring device 800. However,
in the example of FIG. 10, in which 3D scanner 20 measures a long,
mostly flat structure 1102, a smaller effective FOV 1130 may be
selected to provide a more face-on view of features on the
structure.
[0086] When the first 3D scan is completed, the processor system
950 causes the 3D scanner 20 to change from 3D scanning mode to 2D
scanning mode. In an embodiment, it does this by fixing the mirror
26 to direct the outgoing beam 30 on a horizontal plane. The mirror
26 receives reflected light 32 traveling in the reverse direction.
In an embodiment, the scanner begins the 2D scan as soon as the 3D
scanning stops. In another embodiment, the 2D scan starts when the
processor receives a signal such as a signal form the
position/orientation sensor 920, a signal from a brake release
sensor, or a signal sent in response to a command from an operator.
The 3D scanner 20 may start to collect 2D scan data when the mobile
3D measuring system 800 starts to move. In an embodiment, the 2D
scan data is sent to the processor system 950 as it is
collected.
[0087] In an embodiment, the 2D scan data is collected as the
mobile 3D measuring system 800 is moved toward the second
registration position 1114. In an embodiment, 2D scan data is
collected and processed as the 3D scanner 20 passes through a
plurality of 2D measuring positions 1120. At each measuring
position 1120, the 3D scanner collects 2D coordinate data over an
effective FOV 1140. Using methods described in more detail below,
the processor system 950 uses 2D scan data from the plurality of 2D
scans at positions 1120 to determine a position and orientation of
the 3D scanner 20 at the second registration position 1114 relative
to the first registration position 1112, where the first
registration position and the second registration position are
known in a 3D coordinate system common to both. In an embodiment,
the common coordinate system is represented by 2D Cartesian
coordinates x, y and by an angle of rotation .theta. relative to
the x or y axis. In an embodiment, the x and y axes lie in the
horizontal x-y plane of the 3D scanner 20 and may be further based
on a direction of a "front" of the 3D scanner 20. An example of
such an (x, y, .theta.) coordinate system is the coordinate system
1410 of FIG. 14A.
[0088] On the object 1102, there is a region of overlap 1150
between the first 3D scan (collected at the first registration
position 1112) and the second 3D scan (collected at the second
registration position 1114). In the overlap region 1150 there are
registration targets (which may be natural features of the object
1102) that are seen in both the first 3D scan and the second 3D
scan. A problem that often occurs in practice is that, in moving
the 3D scanner 20 from the first registration position 1112 to the
second registration position 1114, the processor system 950 loses
track of the position and orientation of the 3D scanner 20 and
hence is unable to correctly associate the registration targets in
the overlap regions to enable the registration procedure to be
performed reliably. By using the succession of 2D scans, the
processor system 950 is able to determine the position and
orientation of the 3D scanner 20 at the second registration
position 1114 relative to the first registration position 1112.
This information enables the processor system 950 to correctly
match registration targets in the region of overlap 1150, thereby
enabling the registration procedure to be properly completed.
[0089] FIG. 12 shows the 3D scanner 20 collecting 2D scan data at
selected positions 1120 over an effective FOV 1140. At different
positions 1120, the 3D scanner captures 2D scan data over a portion
of the object 1102 marked A, B, C, D, and E. FIG. 12 shows the 3D
scanner 20 moving in time relative to a fixed frame of reference of
the object 1102.
[0090] FIG. 13 includes the same information as FIG. 12 but shows
it from the frame of reference of the 3D scanner 20 while taking 2D
scans rather than the frame of reference of the object 1102. This
figure makes clear that in the scanner frame of reference, the
position of features on the object change over time. Hence it is
clear that the distance traveled by the 3D scanner 20 between
registration position 1 and registration position 2 can be
determined from the 2D scan data sent from the 3D scanner 20 to the
processor system 950.
[0091] FIG. 14A shows a coordinate system that may be used in FIGS.
14B and 14C. In an embodiment, the 2D coordinates x and y are
selected to lie on the plane in which the 2D scans are taken,
ordinarily the horizontal plane. The angle .theta. is selected as a
rotation angle in the plane, the rotation angle relative to an axis
such as x or y. FIGS. 14B, 14C represent a realistic case in which
the 3D scanner 20 is moved not exactly on a straight line, for
example, nominally parallel to the object 1102, but also to the
side. Furthermore, the 3D scanner 20 may be rotated as it is
moved.
[0092] FIG. 14B shows the movement of the object 1102 as seen from
the frame of reference of the 3D scanner 20 in traveling from the
first registration position to the second registration position. In
the scanner frame of reference (that is, as seen from the scanner's
point of view), the object 1102 is moving while the 3D scanner 20
is fixed in place. In this frame of reference, the portions of the
object 1102 seen by the 3D scanner 20 appear to translate and
rotate in time. The 3D scanner 20 provides a succession of such
translated and rotated 2D scans to the processor system 950. In the
example shown in FIGS. 14A, B, the scanner translates in the +y
direction by a distance 1420 shown in FIG. 14B and rotates by an
angle 1430, which in this example is +5 degrees. Of course, the
scanner could equally well have moved in the +x or -x direction. To
determine the movement of the 3D scanner 20 in the x, y, .theta.
directions, the processor system 950 uses the data recorded in
successive horizontal scans as seen in the frame of reference of
the scanner 20, as shown in FIG. 14B. In an embodiment, the
processor system 950 performs a best-fit calculation using methods
well known in the art to match the two scans or features in the two
scans as closely as possible.
[0093] As the 3D scanner 20 takes successive 2D readings and
performs best-fit calculations, the processor system 950 keeps
track of the translation and rotation of the 3D scanner 20. In this
way, the processor system 950 is able to accurately determine the
change in the values of x, y, .theta. as the mobile 3D measuring
system 800 moves from the first registration position 1112 to the
second registration position 1114.
[0094] It is important to understand that the processor system 950
determines the position and orientation of the 3D measuring device
800 based on a comparison of the succession of 2D scans and not on
fusion of the 2D scan data with 3D scan data provided by the 3D
scanner 20 at the first registration position 1112 or the second
registration position 1114.
[0095] Instead, the processor system 950 is configured to determine
a first translation value, a second translation value, and a first
rotation value that, when applied to a combination of the first 2D
scan data and second 2D scan data, results in transformed first 2D
data that matches transformed second 2D data as closely as possible
according to an objective mathematical criterion. In general, the
translation and rotation may be applied to the first scan data, the
second scan data, or to a combination of the two. For example, a
translation applied to the first data set is equivalent to a
negative of the translation applied to the second data set in the
sense that both actions produce the same match in the transformed
data sets. An example of an "objective mathematical criterion" is
that of minimizing the sum of squared residual errors for those
portions of the scan data judged to overlap. Another type of
objective mathematical criterion may involve a matching of multiple
features identified on the object. For example, such features might
be the edge transitions 1103, 1104, and 1105 shown in FIG. 11. The
mathematical criterion may involve processing of the raw 2D scan
data provided by the 3D scanner 20 to the processor system 950, or
it may involve a first intermediate level of processing in which
features are represented as a collection of line segments using
methods that are known in the art, for example, methods based on
the Iterative Closest Point (ICP). Such a method based on ICP is
described in Censi, A., "An ICP variant using a point-to-line
metric," IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation
(ICRA) 2008.
[0096] In an embodiment, the first translation value is dx, the
second translation value is dy, and the first rotation value
d.theta.. If first 2D scan data has translational and rotational
coordinates (in a reference coordinate system) of (x.sub.1,
y.sub.1, .theta..sub.1), then the second 2D scan data collected at
a second location has coordinates given by (x.sub.2, y.sub.2,
.theta..sub.2)=(x.sub.1+dx, y.sub.1+dy, .theta..sub.1+d.theta.). In
an embodiment, the processor system 950 is further configured to
determine a third translation value (for example, dz) and a second
and third rotation values (for example, pitch and roll). The third
translation value, second rotation value, and third rotation value
may be determined based at least in part on readings from the
position/orientation sensor 920.
[0097] The 3D scanner 20 collects 2D scan data at the first
registration position 1112 and more 2D scan data at the second
registration position 1114. In some cases, these 2D scans may
suffice to determine the position and orientation of the 3D
measuring device at the second registration position 1114 relative
to the first registration position 1112. In other cases, the two
sets of 2D scan data are not sufficient to enable the processor
system 950 to accurately determine the first translation value, the
second translation value, and the first rotation value. This
problem may be avoided by collecting 2D scan data at intermediate
scan locations 1120. In an embodiment, the 2D scan data is
collected and processed at regular intervals, for example, once per
second. In this way, features are easily identified in successive
2D scans 1120. If more than two 2D scans are obtained, the
processor system 950 may choose to use the information from all the
successive 2D scans in determining the translation and rotation
values in moving from the first registration position 1112 to the
second registration position 1114. Alternatively, the processor may
choose to use only the first and last scans in the final
calculation, simply using the intermediate 2D scans to ensure
proper correspondence of matching features. In most cases, accuracy
of matching is improved by incorporating information from multiple
successive 2D scans.
[0098] The mobile 3D measuring system 800 is moved to the second
registration position 1114. In an embodiment, the mobile 3D
measuring system 800 is brought to a stop and brakes fixed to hold
the 3D scanner stationary. In an alternative embodiment, the
processor system 950 starts the 3D scan automatically when the
moveable platform is brought to a stop, for example, by the
position/orientation sensor 920 noting the lack of movement. The 3D
scanner 20 in the mobile 3D measuring system 800 takes a 3D scan of
the object 1102. This 3D scan is referred to as the second 3D scan
to distinguish it from the first 3D scan taken at the first
registration position.
[0099] The processor system 950 applies the already calculated
first translation value, the second translation value, and the
first rotation value to adjust the position and orientation of the
second 3D scan relative to the first 3D scan. This adjustment,
which may be considered to provide a "first alignment," brings the
registration targets (which may be natural features in the overlap
region 1150) into close proximity. The processor system 950
performs a fine registration in which it makes fine adjustments to
the six degrees of freedom of the second 3D scan relative to the
first 3D scan. It makes the fine adjustment based on an objective
mathematical criterion, which may be the same as or different than
the mathematical criterion applied to the 2D scan data. For
example, the objective mathematical criterion may be that of
minimizing the sum of squared residual errors for those portions of
the scan data judged to overlap. Alternatively, the objective
mathematical criterion may be applied to a plurality of features in
the overlap region. The mathematical calculations in the
registration may be applied to raw 3D scan data or to geometrical
representations of the 3D scan data, for example, by a collection
of line segments.
[0100] Outside the overlap region 1150, the aligned values of the
first 3D scan and the second 3D scan are combined in a registered
3D data set. Inside the overlap region, the 3D scan values included
in the registered 3D data set are based on some combination of 3D
scanner data from the aligned values of the first 3D scan and the
second 3D scan.
[0101] A second example of using measuring and computing devices to
help select optimal measurement locations and ensure good
registrations is the same as the first example described
hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 9-14 except that the
measurements in a horizontal plane are made with a 2D laser scanner
rather than by the laser scanner 20 according to the method
described with reference to FIG. 9A. The 2D laser scanner in this
second example provides the same information as the 3D laser
scanner 20 measuring over a horizontal plane. In an embodiment, the
2D scanner is placed directly under the 3D scanner 20 and on top of
the motorized tripod assembly 810.
[0102] Examples of 2D scanners that might be included in the 2D
scanner accessory include 2D scanners from the SICK LMS100 product
family and 2D scanners from Hoyuko such as the Hoyuko models
URG-04LX-UG01 and UTM-30LX. The 2D scanners from SICK are
manufactured by SICK AG, with headquarters in Waldkirch, Germany.
The Hoyuko scanners are manufactured by Hokuyo Automatic Company,
Ltd, with headquarters in Osaka, Japan. The scanners in the Sick
LMS100 family measure angles over a 270 degree range and over
distances up to 20 meters. The Hoyuko model URG-04LX-UG01 is a
low-cost 2D scanner that measures angles over a 240 degree range
and distances up to 4 meters. The Hoyuko model UTM-30LX is a 2D
scanner that measures angles over a 270 degree range and to
distances up to 30 meters. Many other types of 2D scanners are also
available.
[0103] A third example of using measuring and computing devices to
help select optimal measurement locations and ensure good
registrations is now given with reference to FIGS. 3 and 8A. Mobile
3D measuring device 800 includes a 3D scanner 20, a processor
system 950, a motorized dolly 820, and a 2D camera, which may be a
camera 112 internal to the 3D scanner (as shown in FIG. 3), a
camera 66 mounted on the 3D scanner (as shown in FIG. 1), or a
camera mounted on the motorized dolly 820.
[0104] In one mode of operation of the 3D measuring device 800, the
camera (112 or 66) captures overlapping 2D camera images as the 3D
measuring device is moved between positions at which 3D scans are
taken. For the case in which the camera is an internal camera (such
as the central color camera 112) or a camera 66 mounted on the
measuring head 22, the camera may be optionally steered about the
vertical axis 23 to increase the effective FOV of the camera. In an
embodiment, the laser power is turned off as the 2D camera images
are collected. In an alternative embodiment, the laser power is
left on so that the 3D scanner may make 2D scans in a horizontal
plane while the 2D camera images are collected.
[0105] The procedure carried out according to the third example is
similar to that of the first two except that the change in distance
and orientation is based on the information from the plurality of
2D imaging data rather than from the data obtained from the 2D
scanner or 3D scanner in a horizontal plane. As in the first and
second examples, the change in position and orientation is tracked
by the 2D cameras to provide a good starting point for the second
registration of the data collected by the 3D scanner in the first
and second registration positions. As in the previous cases, 2D and
3D data are not fused to determine the starting position and
orientation for the mathematical registration procedure. The
distance and orientation change from the first and second position
may be based on a mathematical method such as "optical flow"
described in "Mathematical Models in Computer Vision: The Handbook"
by N. Paragios, Y. Chen, and O. Faugeras (editors), Chapter 15,
Springer 2005, pp. 239-258, the contents of which are incorporated
by reference herein.
[0106] In an embodiment, the camera imaging data is collected as
the mobile 3D measuring device 800 is moved toward the second
registration position 1114. In an embodiment, the camera imaging
data is collected and processed as the 3D scanner 20 passes through
a plurality of 2D measuring positions 1120. At each measuring
position 1120, the camera collects camera imaging data over an
effective FOV 1140. The processor system 950 uses the camera
imaging data from a plurality of camera images at positions 1120 to
determine a position and orientation of the 3D scanner 20 at the
second registration position 1114 relative to the first
registration position 1112, where the first registration position
and the second registration position are known in a 3D coordinate
system common to both. In an embodiment, the common coordinate
system is represented by 2D Cartesian coordinates x, y and by an
angle of rotation .theta. relative to the x or y axis. In an
embodiment, the x and y axes lie in the horizontal x-y plane of the
3D scanner 20 and may be further based on a direction of a "front"
of the 3D scanner 20. An example of such an (x, y, .theta.)
coordinate system is the coordinate system 1410 of FIG. 14A.
[0107] A fourth example of using measuring and computing devices to
help select optimal measurement locations and ensure good
registrations is now given for a mobile 3D measuring device 800
that includes a 3D scanner 20, a processor system 950, a motorized
dolly 820, and a depth camera at locations discussed further
below.
[0108] The depth camera may be either of two types: a
central-element depth camera and a triangulation-based depth
camera. A central-element depth camera uses a single integrated
sensor element combined with an illumination element to determine
distance ("depth") and angles from the camera to points on an
object. One type of central-element depth camera uses a lens
combined with a semiconductor chip to measure round-trip time of
light travelling from the camera to the object and back. For
example, the Microsoft Xbox One includes a Kinect depth camera that
uses an infrared (IR) light source to illuminate a 640.times.480
pixel photosensitive array. This depth camera is used in parallel
with a 640.times.480 pixel RGB camera that measures red, blue, and
green colors. Infrared illumination is provided in the IR
illuminators adjacent to the lens and IR array. Another example of
a central-element depth camera includes a lens and a PMD
Technologies PhotonICs 19k-S3 3D chip used in conjunction with an
IR light source, the 3D chip manufactured by pmdtechnologies AG,
with headquarters in Siegen, Germany. The measurement distance
range of this 160.times.120 pixel chip is scalable based on the
camera layout. Many other central-element depth cameras and
associated IR sources are available today. Most central-element
depth cameras include a modulated light source. The light source
may use pulse modulation for direct determination of round-trip
travel time. Alternatively, the light source may use continuous
wave (CW) modulation with sinusoidal or rectangular waveforms to
obtain round-trip travel time based on measured phase shift.
[0109] FIG. 8A shows two possible locations for a central-element
depth camera. In an embodiment, the camera 66 is a central-element
depth camera rather than a 2D camera. In this case, the depth
camera 66 includes an integrated light source. In another
embodiment, a central-element depth camera takes the place of
central-color camera 112. In this case, the light source may be
integrated into the central-depth camera package or placed near to
it so that the illumination light passes through the dichroic beam
splitter 118. Alternatively, the beam splitter 118 may not be a
dichroic beam splitter but instead transmit and reflect wavelengths
used by the central-element depth camera 112. In this case, the
wavelengths used by the depth camera 112 may be sent from the
launch 28, reflected off the beam splitter 118 onto the object, and
reflected back from the object onto the depth camera. In an
alternative embodiment, the central-element depth camera 840 is
located on the motorized dolly 820.
[0110] The second type of depth camera is a triangulation-based
depth camera. An example of such a camera is the Kinect of the
Microsoft Xbox 360, which is a different Kinect than the Kinect of
the Microsoft Xbox One described herein above. An IR light source
on the Kinect of the Xbox 360 projects a pattern of light onto an
object, which is imaged by an IR camera that includes a
photosensitive array. The Kinect determines a correspondence
between the projected pattern and the image received by the
photosensitive array. It uses this information in a triangulation
calculation to determine the distance to object points in the
measurement volume. This calculation is based partly on the
baseline between the projector and the IR camera and partly on the
camera pattern received and projector pattern sent out. Unlike the
central-element depth camera, a triangulation camera cannot be
brought arbitrarily close to the light source (pattern projector)
as accuracy is reduced with decreasing baseline distance. Many
types of triangulation-based depth cameras are available.
[0111] FIG. 15 shows a possible location for a triangulation-based
depth camera 66. In an embodiment, the triangulation-based depth
camera 66 is located on the 3D scanner 20. The depth camera 66
includes a camera 882 and a pattern projector 884. It may also
include an optional color camera 886. In an alternative embodiment,
the triangulation-based depth camera 870 is located on the
motorized dolly 820. It is not generally possible to replace the
central-color camera 112 with a triangulation-based depth camera
because of the need for a baseline separation between the projector
and the camera.
[0112] In one mode of operation of the mobile 3D measuring device
800, the depth camera (112, 66) captures overlapping depth-camera
images as the 3D measuring device is moved between positions at
which 3D scans are taken. For the case in which the depth camera is
an internal camera (for example, in place of the central color
camera 112) or a camera 66 mounted on the measuring head 22, the
camera may be optionally steered about the vertical axis 23 to
increase the effective FOV of the depth camera. In an embodiment,
the laser power from the 3D scanner is turned off as the
depth-camera images are collected. In an alternative embodiment,
the laser power is left on so that the 3D scanner 20 may make 2D
scans in a horizontal plane while the depth-camera images are
collected. For the case in which the depth camera 840 is mounted on
the moveable platform 820, the direction at which the depth camera
is pointed is unaffected by rotation of horizontal axis 25 or
vertical axis 23.
[0113] In an embodiment, the processor system 950 extracts a
horizontal slice from the depth-camera image. The resulting 2D
coordinates on the horizontal plane provides information of the
sort shown in FIGS. 12-14. As in the case of the first three
examples above, such information may be used to provide first and
second translation values and a first rotation value to provide a
good starting point for 3D registration.
[0114] For the case in which the depth camera is internal to the
camera, for example, taking the place of central color camera 112,
the light from depth-camera light source is sent off the mirror 26
and the scattered light is reflected off the object onto the mirror
26 and then onto the depth camera. In an embodiment, the mirror 26
is kept fixed about the horizontal axis 25 as shown in FIG. 9A.
[0115] In most cases, a single horizontal slice is sufficient to
provide accurate first and second translation values and first
rotation value. However, in the event that the scanned area is
nearly featureless over the horizontal slice, other methods may be
used. One method is to take multiple horizontal slices, each at a
different height. A scanned region that is nearly featureless at
one height may include several features at a different height.
Alternatively, the method of optical flow described herein above
may be used.
[0116] Methods for using the motorized dolly 820 with 3D measuring
devices such as the mobile 3D measuring system 800 are now given,
with emphasis on applications in which such methods may be
advantageously used. Applications discussed herein below include
(1) monitoring of changes in a flexible factory; (2) accurate
measuring of objects over large areas and from all directions; (3)
providing assistance in building construction.
[0117] In the past, most manufacturing plants have been based on
fixed assemblies lines or manufacturing cells. In such plants, the
lines or cells are fixed in place and seldom moved or modified. In
most cases, aisle ways are kept wide and fixed so that parts can be
delivered and equipment moved according to a prescribed schedule.
Today, efforts are underway to make manufacturing plants more
flexible, thereby enabling customization to be carried out more
easily and changes to be made more quickly and with lower costs.
Such factories may use moveable assembly surfaces or overhead
carrying mechanisms instead of fixed assembly lines and cells. Such
flexible assembly necessitates a more flexible method of delivering
parts needed for production according to the latest orders or
production forecast. Parts may be stocked relatively close to the
assembly areas to minimize time required to deliver the parts to
the assembly areas. Parts may be delivered to an assembly area
frequently and in small batches. Small carriers may move in
relatively narrow and changing aisle ways to deliver the needed
parts to the flexible manufacturing stations.
[0118] Robots used in assembly lines today, for example, in
automotive factories, are usually considered unsafe to use near
humans and hence are isolated in separate areas that are expensive
to equip and inflexible. In contrast, a flexible factory of the
future may emphasize the use of smaller, less powerful, human
friendly robots that may safely work next to humans. Such human
friendly robots can more easily be taught to do required
measurement tasks than robots of the past, which generally required
elaborate programming and verification procedures.
[0119] The operations of the factory of the future will be managed
through a computer network that will require information on current
status of factory layout and parts stocking to ensure that
operations run smoothly. To some extent, such information may be
provided by a network of cameras located on ceilings and walls, for
example, but there is a need for more detailed information on
dimensional layouts and parts inventory than can be provided by an
ordinary camera network.
[0120] In an embodiment, the mobile 3D measuring system 800 is used
to monitor factory layout and inventory in stock. A mobile 3D
measuring system 800 that includes a 3D laser scanner 20 may move
along aisle ways in a factory, determining the location and size of
aisle ways, the location and size of manufacturing areas, and the
location and size of inventory areas. The aisle ways may be curved
or may end abruptly to be continued on the other side of a
blockage. The aisle ways may also be aisle ways nearer the ceiling
than the floor for those cases in which assemblies are transported
by chains or other devices attached to overhead mobile carriers.
Inventory may include not only first level parts but also
sub-assemblies.
[0121] Although the computer network may provide the mobile 3D
measuring system 800 with information on the desired factory layout
and parts availability, the current information may not be fully
up-to-date or may simply be wrong. In traversing the factory floor,
the mobile 3D measuring system 800 needs to rapidly determine its
current location and identify elements of the factory such as
assembly areas and inventory storage areas. In an embodiment, the
3D measuring system accurately determines the size, shape, and
orientation of the assembly and inventory components. The mobile 3D
measuring system 800 may also determine whether the elements of
each assembly area are as expected--for example, whether the right
robots and other equipment are present. The computer network uses
this provided information to determine whether actions are needed
to correct problems--for example, by opening up an aisle way, by
replacing or moving an assembly function, or by changing production
rates or parts delivery information according to the information
provided. In some cases, the information provided by the mobile 3D
measuring system 800 may indicate that human intervention is needed
to ensure smooth running of operations.
[0122] In an embodiment, the mobile 3D measuring system 800 uses
one of the registration methods given in the first through fourth
examples given above (as further referenced in U.S. patent
application Ser. Nos. 14/559,290, 14/559,311, 14/559,335, and
14/559,367). Such methods enable the mobile 3D measuring system to
accurately and efficiently register multiple 3D point clouds
collected by the 3D scanner 20. In other embodiments, other
registration methods are used.
[0123] In an embodiment, the computer network provides the mobile
3D measuring system 800 with electronic information on the
environment. Such electronic information may include a description
of each factory assembly area, each inventory storage area, and
each aisle way. Information on each factory assembly area may
include dimensional information, which may include overall
dimensions as well as a description of components included in each
factory assembly area and observable physical features of each
factory assembly area. In an embodiment, the computer network
provides the mobile 3D measuring system 800 with expected
dimensions of aisle ways and inventory storage areas.
[0124] In an embodiment, the mobile 3D measuring system 800 is
configured to move safely around a factory environment in the
presence of humans. In an embodiment, the speed of the 3D measuring
system 800 is kept to less than one meter per second, which is a
speed generally considered to pose a minimal risk of injury from
collision. In an embodiment, the mobile 3D measuring system 800
includes sensors that monitor the presence of humans or other
objects in the direction of movement of the system 800, thereby
enabling avoidance of collisions with people or other objects.
Examples of sensors suitable for this purpose are a 2D laser
scanner; a 3D laser scanner 20 used in a horizontal rotation mode
as described with reference to FIG. 9A; a 2D camera used with
optical flow or other suitable algorithm; a 3D depth camera, which
might be a central-element depth camera or a triangulation-based
depth camera; and an ultrasound sensor. An ultrasound sensor is
useful when some objects in the factory are nearly transparent--for
example, large sheets of glass. Other types of sensors may also be
used to enable obstacle avoidance.
[0125] In an embodiment, the mobile 3D measuring system 800 is
positioned in a factory environment and given instructions to move
along available aisle ways to collect information on the factory
layout and inventory as described herein above. In an embodiment,
the computer network gives the mobile 3D measuring system 800
instructions to simply move along available aisle ways, mapping
what is seen and delivering the observations to the computer
network for analysis. In another embodiment, the computer network
gives the mobile 3D measuring system 800 instructions to move along
particular aisle ways to collect desired information, which is then
provided to the computer. In another embodiment, the computer
network provides the mobile 3D measuring system 800 with electronic
information on the factory. Such electronic information may include
size, placement, features, and contents of assembly areas and
inventory areas, and geometry of the factory as a whole, including
aisle ways. If overhead spaces are used for manufacturing or
delivery of materials, the computer network may also provide this
information to the mobile 3D measuring system 800.
[0126] In most cases, it is advantageous for the computer network
to give considerable electronic information to the mobile 3D
measuring system 800 since the system 800 may carry out most of the
required calculations and simply deliver to the computer network
that information considered important by the computer network. For
this situation, the mobile 3D measuring system 800 needs to
determine its initial position within the factory in relation to
the layout information provided by computer network. In one
embodiment, the mobile 3D measuring system determines its initial
position by moving along a clear unobstructed passage of the path
in an aisle way, observing the dimensions and features in the
surroundings, and matching the dimensions and features to those
observed in the surroundings. The initial position is then
determined retrospectively based on the information that had been
collected before a matching of the surroundings was achieved. This
method presupposes that the factory environment changes relatively
slowly so that the mobile 3D measuring system 800 is able to
recognize the overall geometry of assembly areas, inventory areas,
and aisle ways in the factory, even if some of the geometry has
changed. Once the mobile 3D measuring system has determined its
position in relation to the geometry in the electronic information
provided by the computer network, it knows its position and
orientation and may move accurately about its environment, noting
any changes that may have occurred relative to the electronic
file.
[0127] In an alternative embodiment, external systems are used to
determine the position and orientation of the mobile 3D measuring
system 800. Such an external system may enable faster movement of
the mobile 3D measuring system 800 through the factory since the
mobile 3D measuring system 800 does not have to stop periodically
to take a scan to reestablish its position and orientation through
registration. Instead, it can simply go to any area the computer
network considers to be in need of investigation, its movement
guided by the external system. In addition, the initial position
and orientation of the mobile 3D measuring system 800 may be
determined relatively quickly, thereby eliminating the need to have
the system 800 move far enough and take enough measurements to
determine the initial position. Another potential advantage of an
external system is improved accuracy since an external system may
provide a more accurate knowledge of the position and orientation
of the mobile 3D measuring system 800 than would otherwise be
available.
[0128] Several types of external systems may be used to establish
the position and orientation of the mobile 3D measuring system 800
within the environment. In a first embodiment, external sensors are
mounted on the environment surrounding the mobile 3D measuring
system 800. Such sensors may measure distances, angles, or a
combination of distances and angles to markers (also referred to as
targets) located on the mobile 3D measuring system 800. In a first
embodiment, sensors include at least one 2D camera that measures
angles in two directions. In an embodiment, the markers on the
mobile 3D measuring system 800 are light sources such as light
emitting diodes (LEDs) 1630 illustrated in FIG. 16. If accuracy in
finding the position and orientation of the mobile 3D measuring
system 800 is not too important, a single LED may be placed on the
mobile 3D measuring system 800. In most cases, it is advantageous
to place at least three non-collinear LEDs on the mobile 3D
measuring system 800. A fourth LED may be advantageously placed on
the mobile 3D measuring system 800 at a position off the plane that
holds the first three LEDs. The markers (which might be LEDs) may
be placed on the body of the 3D scanner 20 or on other parts of the
mobile 3D measuring system 800 such as on the legs 812 of the
tripod or on the moveable dolly 820. In determining an accurate
position and orientation of the mobile 3D measuring system 800, it
is helpful for the imaged markers to cover a relatively large
portion of the camera image sensor. For relatively wide-angle
cameras or cameras relatively far away from the mobile 3D measuring
system 800, it can be useful to place the markers over the extent
of the motorized tripod assembly 810 as well as on the 3D scanner
20. A technique that can be used to further improve the accuracy of
the position and orientation of the mobile 3D measuring system 800
is to rotate the 3D scanner 20 about the axis 23 or 25 shown in
FIG. 1. Since the relative positions of the LEDs can be established
relative to the gimbal point 27 of the 3D scanner 10, these
additional images of markers may help determine the position and
orientation of the mobile 3D measuring system 800.
[0129] For the case in which the markers are LEDs, the LEDs may be
modulated in time to help remove the effects of background light,
the glints of which can erroneously appear to be markers. In
addition, modulation can be used to distinguish each of the several
LEDs on the mobile 3D measuring system 800. In an embodiment, such
modulation provides digital communication signals that are received
and decoded by the mobile 3D measuring system 800.
[0130] It is also possible to use a plurality of LED colors to help
distinguish different LEDs on the mobile 3D measuring system 800. A
red-blue-green (RGB) camera might be used, for example, to
distinguish the different LEDs.
[0131] For the case in which a single camera is used, for example,
a camera 1610 in FIG. 16, the angles to each of LEDs 1630 is
determined based on a correspondence between (1) the angle of the
LED in relation to the optical axis of the camera to (2) the center
of the patch of pixels illuminated by the LED. This correspondence
is based on the observation that each ray of light from an LED may
be considered to pass through a perspective center of the camera.
When a single camera is used to determine distance to an object as
well as angles to an object, the relative size of the overall
object is also important. An improvement in accuracy is possible
through the use of two or more cameras mounted in the environment.
For example, a second camera 1612 may assist the camera 1610 in
FIG. 16. In this case, a method of triangulation that takes account
of the relatively large image-sensor baseline distance or
separation between the two cameras may be used to more accurately
determine the position and orientation of the mobile 3D measuring
system 800. In an embodiment, the plurality of cameras further
measures a reference distance to help establish the scale of the
camera. For example, LEDs 1642 may be mounted on a reference
structure 1640 such as a frame or a scale bar to provide the basis
for the scaling adjustment. In an embodiment, the reference
structure is made of a material having a low coefficient of thermal
expansion (CTE), which helps ensure that it maintains a constant
length between markers as temperature is varied. Such a low-CTE
material might be a carbon-fiber composite, for example. However,
in many cases, a material having a higher CTE, such as steel
(having a CTE of around 11.5 micrometer/meter/.degree. C.) may
provide enough accuracy.
[0132] In an embodiment, the positions of each camera 1610, 1612 is
known in an environment. Such camera positions may be found
initially by measuring the positions of the cameras with a device
such as a laser tracker or by measuring multiple targets at known
positions in the environment with both cameras and then solving
using an optimization method. An example is a least-squares
optimization method in which the sum of squares of residual errors
is minimized. The positions of the cameras in the environment may
be checked or corrected over time by measuring one or more known
lengths such as the lengths between targets 1642 on a scale bar
1640. In an embodiment, LEDs 1630 are located on the body of 3D
scanner 20, on the tripod legs 812 and on the mobile dolly 820. In
other embodiments, the LEDs are located on just the 3D scanner 20
or on another part of the mobile 3D measuring system 800. In an
embodiment, the collected images are processed by a processor to
determine the position and orientation of the mobile 3D measuring
system 800. In an embodiment, cameras 1610, 1612 send image data to
processors of the mobile 3D measuring system 800 for processing. In
other embodiments, the camera system that includes the cameras
1610, 1612 has its own processing system used to determine the
position and orientation of the mobile 3D measuring system 800. In
another embodiment, a network computer performs the calculations.
In some embodiments, only a single camera 1610 or a single LED is
used, with the resulting calculation yielding only a position of
the mobile 3D measuring system 800 rather than a position and an
orientation of the mobile 3D measuring system 800.
[0133] With the method in which one or two cameras are used to
measure at least three sensors, the position and orientation of the
mobile 3D measuring system 800 can be found in the frame of
reference of the environment. This information can be combined with
3D coordinates measured by the 3D scanner 20 to determine 3D
coordinates of the measured point in the frame of reference of the
environment.
[0134] Besides cameras, there are also devices that measure angles
based on the use of coded masks with a plurality of single pixels.
Angular accuracies with such angle-measuring devices can be good,
for example, on the order of a few arcseconds in some cases. An
example of such a system is described in WIPO Patent Application
No. 2013/103725 to Dowski Jr., et al., the contents of which are
herein incorporated by reference. Such devices may be used to
replace the cameras in the discussion herein above.
[0135] In an embodiment, an instrument that measures two angles and
a distance is used to determine the position and orientation of the
mobile 3D measuring system 800. Examples of such devices include
laser trackers, laser radars, total stations, and 3D TOF scanners.
Such a device may be mounted in an elevated position, for example,
on a platform, to obtain greater ability to measure a mobile 3D
measuring system 800 over a range of locations in the environment.
Alternatively, such a device may be mounted on a platform, tripod,
or instrument stand that is approximately at the same height as the
mobile 3D measuring system 800.
[0136] FIG. 17 illustrates a laser tracker 1700 mounted on an
elevated platform 1705 that in an embodiment measures three or more
retroreflectors 1710, such as cube-corner retroreflectors mounted
on the body of the 3D scanner 20. By measuring the three
retroreflectors 1710, the tracker may determine the position and
orientation of the 3D scanner 20. The position and orientation of
the tracker is known in the environment based on measurements
carried out ahead of time. In these measurements, the laser tracker
is used to measure features within the environment to establish its
own position and orientation within the environment. Measurements
may be periodically performed by the tracker to ensure that the
tracker position and orientation remains correct. Such measurements
may include, for example, measuring retroreflectors 1730 mounted in
the environment. With the position and orientation of the mobile 3D
measuring system 800 known, the 3D scanner 20 may proceed to
measure the characteristics of the object 1600. A laser tracker may
have a range of up to 80 meters and hence may be able to assist is
directing several distinct mobile 3D measuring systems 800.
[0137] In other embodiments, other instruments capable of measuring
retroreflector targets replace the laser tracker 1700. In one
embodiment, the laser tracker 1700 is replaced with a total station
having the capability of measuring a retroreflector target. In
another example, the laser tracker is replaced with focusing laser
scanner (sometimes referred to as a laser radar) having the
capability of measuring two angles and a distance to a tooling
ball, which is a highly reflective ball of steel. In an embodiment,
laser light from the laser radar is focused to a relatively small
spot on the tooling ball. The beam is steered around and the angle
at which maximum light is returned to the laser radar is the angle
at which the beam of light points to the center of the sphere.
Hence the tooling balls in this instance act as retroreflectors
1710 and 1730 in FIG. 17. In an alternative embodiment, a
tracker-scanner device combines the capability of a laser tracker
to measure cooperative targets, such as SMRs, with the ability to
measure diffuse surfaces. In other words, this type of device
combines tracker and scanner capabilities.
[0138] In another embodiment also illustrated in FIG. 17, a laser
tracker is of the type capable of measuring six degrees of freedom
(six-DOF) and the retroreflector 1720 is a six-DOF target. A
six-DOF laser tracker is a laser tracker having the ability to
measure three orientation angles (such as pitch, roll, and yaw) as
well as three positional coordinates (such as x, y, and z) when
using a six-DOF probe. Such six-DOF lasers and six-DOF targets use
a variety of techniques to measure the six degrees of freedom. In
this embodiment represented by FIG. 17, the six-DOF laser tracker
1700 measures the six-DOF target to determine the position and
orientation of the 3D scanner 20.
[0139] For embodiments in which a laser tracker or total station is
used to measure 3D coordinates of three SMRs on the system 800 or
in which a focused laser scanner is used to measure 3D coordinates
of three tooling balls on the system 800, the information collected
from these measurements can be combined with the 3D coordinates
measured by the 3D scanner 20 to determine 3D coordinates of the
measured point in the frame of reference of the environment.
[0140] For embodiments in which a six-DOF laser tracker is used to
measure 3D coordinates of a six-DOF target on the system 800, this
measurement can be combined with the 3D coordinates measured by the
3D scanner 20 to determine 3D coordinates of the measured point in
the frame of reference of the environment.
[0141] In another embodiment, four distance meters are mounted in
the environment. In an initial step, the four (or more)
interferometers or absolute distance meters (ADMs) measure each a
retroreflector at each of ten positions. The collected information
is enough to determine the 3D position and offset value (distance
zero value) of each of the four distance meter. After this
procedure has been performed once, the 3D coordinates of a
retroreflector may be determined by a single measurement, referred
to as a multilateration measurement. By performing such a
measurement on three retroreflectors 1710, the position and
orientation of the mobile 3D measuring system 800 may be determined
by a processor.
[0142] In one mode of operation, the mobile 3D measuring system 800
operates under instructions provided on the computer network.
Alternatively, a user may take remote control of the mobile 3D
measuring system 800. In some cases, a user may want to a visual
indication of the factory. In this case, the scanner may travel
through the aisle ways returning real-time color images to the
user. The user may ask the scanner to slow down or take a different
path to provide more detailed images. The user may then ask for
supplemental information on the position of assembly areas or the
amount of new or in-process inventory in the plant. In some
instances, the scanner may be able to count inventory directly
based on 2D or 3D measurements or based on information collected
from labels such as a bar-code, an RFID tag or a QR codes. In an
embodiment, the mobile 3D measuring system 800 is equipped with an
RFID reader and a barcode reader or QR coder reader.
[0143] In an embodiment, the scanner software continually checks
for potential obstacles and overrides user commands when needed to
ensure safety. In an embodiment, a mobile 3D measuring system 800
may raise an alert when a problem is observed, particularly if the
mobile 3D measuring system 800 observes a potential safety
issue.
[0144] In an embodiment, the operator concurrently controls several
distinct mobile 3D measuring systems 800. While some systems 800
collects information according to instructions provided by the
computer network or according to earlier instructions of the user,
one or more systems 800 operate under interactive control of the
user. An operator who remotely controls one or more mobile 3D
measuring systems 800 may be near the systems 800 or in a different
location far away from the systems 800. An operator may remotely
control mobile 3D measuring systems 800 residing in several
different locations.
[0145] In most cases, each mobile 3D measuring system concurrently
controlled by an operator include a 3D measuring device mounted on
a motorized stand, with each 3D measuring device configured to
project light onto one or more points in an environment. In an
embodiment, each 3D measuring device determines 3D coordinates of
the illuminated point by measuring a distance, a first angle, and a
second angle to the point. Examples of 3D measuring devices that
may be concurrently controlled include a 3D time-of-flight (TOF)
scanner, a triangulation scanner, a laser tracker, and a
combination tracker/scanner. A triangulation scanner includes a
projector and a camera, the projector configured to project a
pattern of light onto an object, the camera separated from the
projector by a baseline distance, the camera further configured to
measure the projected pattern on the object. For the triangulation
scanner and the 3D TOF scanner, the illuminated point is usually on
the object being measured, which is ordinarily a diffusely
scattering object. For the case of a laser tracker, the illuminated
point is usually at the vertex of a retroreflector, for example, at
the center of a spherically mounted retroreflector (SMR) that
houses a cube-corner retroreflector. A combination tracker/scanner
has the ability to measure a point on a diffusely scattering
surface (for example, a surface of an automobile body-in-white) and
to measure a position of a retroreflector target.
[0146] In some cases, a computer network or an operator may provide
general instructions, for example, to check whether a layout
conforms to plans or whether inventory is as expected. In some
embodiments, the details of how these instructions are to be
carried out may be left to the mobile 3D measuring system 800 or to
other processors in the system. For example, guidance may be
provided at least partially by external sensors such as cameras or
laser trackers, as explained herein above. In other cases, the
operator may lead the mobile 3D measuring system 800 on a path that
is to be followed in a particular case or on a routine basis. The
scanner follows the operator, monitoring the movement with readings
of its internal sensors (e.g., wheel odometer, 2D scanner, 2D
camera, 3D camera, ultrasound, IMU). Following the operator in this
way provides the mobile 3D measuring system 800 with enough
information to complete a detailed survey along the indicated path
when time permits.
[0147] In an embodiment, the user interface may be a touchscreen
display from which the operator may give instructions to any of the
plurality of mobile 3D measuring systems and may receive
information, such as 3D coordinate information, from the mobile 3D
measuring systems. In an embodiment, the user interface may include
a plurality of computer monitors, for example, to show information
being gathered from each of the mobile 3D measuring systems. In an
embodiment, the operator may communicate with the mobile 3D
measuring systems through a virtual reality (VR) wearable device
such as a VR wearable headset that provides the user with an
immersive 3D experience. An advantage of such a device is in
providing a greater level of 3D realism (immersion) and control to
the operator. The user interface may be configured to provide
augmented reality (AR) by superimposing constructed elements over
real time 2D or 3D images provided by the user interface. Such
constructed images could be obtained from CAD files, or they might
be visual objects extracted from a catalog of 3D images. Such AR
images can be useful for visualizing proposed changes to an
environment. AR or VR displays can be provided through enhanced
eyeglasses, headsets, or 2D display monitors.
[0148] In an embodiment, an operator may elect to view 3D
information collected by one or more of the mobile 3D measuring
systems, according to a selection made by the operator. The
operator may choose to compare characteristics of an object
measured by a mobile 3D measuring system with information on the
object stored in memory, for example, on a computer network. For
example, a computer network may include a CAD file including
dimensional characteristics of an object being measured by one of
the mobile 3D measuring systems. These stored dimensional
characteristics may be compared to the measured dimensional
characteristics to determine whether the characteristics are as
expected--for example, whether the dimensions in a CAD file are
consistent with dimensions measured by the mobile 3D measuring
system. In an embodiment, characteristics of an object as stored in
memory, for example, on a computer network, may be compared to
characteristics of an object as measured by a mobile 3D measuring
system. By such a comparison, the system may identify for the
operator objects viewed by a mobile 3D measuring system.
Information associated with the identified object may be extracted
from the computer network and provided to the operator through the
user interface. For example, the mobile 3D measuring system may
identify an object as a tool configured to produce a particular
subassembly in a manufacturing plant. The computer network may then
pull from memory information associated with the performance of
this tool--for example, production rate and defect rate. Such
information may be presented to the operator through the user
interface. As another example, the mobile 3D measuring system may
identify a storage depot for supplying components used in
manufacturing. The mobile 3D measuring system may identify the
number of components currently in inventory. It may make this
determination based on 2D images or by 3D measurements. It may
compare this inventory level to the inventory requirements to
determine or confirm that the storage depot needs to be restocked.
The mobile 3D measuring system may confirm that it has correctly
identified the items in inventory by reading a tag associated with
the storage deport--for example, an RFID tag, a bar code tag, or a
QR code tag. The mobile 3D measuring system may also measure the
size of elements in an environment, for example, to see if room is
available to place a new piece of equipment. In an embodiment, an
operator may direct a mobile 3D measuring device along a desired
path, using a 2D view or a 3D view to see directly what is
happening at a given time. The operator may use a joystick or
similar control to move the 3D measuring system in a desired path.
Alternatively, the operator may refer to a map or the environment
to direct the mobile 3D measuring system to the desired location,
or the operator may rely on a computer network to direct the mobile
3D measuring system to a desired location. As another example, the
operator may direct the mobile 3D measuring system to check the
unobstructed width of aisle ways to ensure that adequate room is
available to carry out required functions such as restocking
storage deports or moving new equipment into position.
[0149] As mentioned herein above, an application for which the
motorized dolly 820 with 3D measuring device may be advantageously
used is the accurate measuring of objects over large areas and from
all directions. A difficulty faced to some degree by all 3D
measuring instruments is the need to register multiple scans when
the object to be measured extends over a large area or a large
angular region. An example of such a measurement challenge is
measuring of an object such as an automobile from all sides; in
other words, over 360 degrees. In the case of a device such as a
laser tracker, registration is usually accomplished by placing
magnetic nests in a region surrounding the object under test. For
example, magnetic nests may be attached to a floor surrounding the
object under test. After a laser tracker has measured one side of
the automobile, it measures spherically mounted retroreflectors
(SMRs) placed in the magnetic nests. It then moves around the
object and again measures the SMRs. The tracker measures the 3D
coordinates of the SMRs at the first position, before the tracker
is moved, and at the second position, after the tracker is moved.
As long as at least three SMR positions are measured in common from
each position, the measurements taken by the laser tracker at the
first position and the second position can be put into a common
frame of reference.
[0150] Methods are now described for use of the motorized dolly 820
or equivalent motorized moving device to provide a variety of 3D
measuring devices with registration over 360 degrees without user
intervention.
[0151] FIG. 18 shows an embodiment of a mobile 3D measuring device
1800 that includes a 3D measuring device 1810 mounted on a
motorized tripod assembly 810. The 3D measuring device 1810 may be
a tracker, six-DOF tracker, total station, tracker-scanner device
or laser radar. The tripod assembly 810 may include a tripod 812
and a motorized dolly 820.
[0152] FIG. 19 shows a mobile 3D measuring device 1800 together
with an automobile body-in-white (BiW) 1900 surrounded by
cooperative targets 1910, which may be tooling balls, cateye
retroreflectors or SMRs. In an embodiment, the 3D measuring device
1810 has the ability to measure a cooperative target such as an SMR
and a diffuse surface such as a surface of the BiW 1900. When
measurements of the BiW diffuse surfaces are completed, the 3D
measuring device 1810 may then measure accessible cooperative
targets 1910. The motorized dolly 820 is activated to drive the
mobile 3D measuring device 1800 to a second location. At the second
location, the 3D measuring device again measures the accessible
cooperative targets 1910, which should include at least three
cooperative targets 1910 in common with those measured at the first
position of the mobile 3D measuring device. The 3D coordinates of
the cooperative targets 1910 at the first and second location are
used to determine a common frame of reference for the 3D scanner
measurements made at the two positions. Measurements are made at as
many locations as necessary to determine the 3D coordinates for the
body-in-white surface, all put in a common frame of reference. An
advantage of this method over prior art methods is that the
measurement is made around a full 360 degrees using a single mobile
measuring device without operator intervention.
[0153] FIG. 20 shows an embodiment of a mobile 3D measuring system
2000 that includes a triangulation scanner 2010 mounted on a
motorized tripod assembly 810. In an embodiment, a triangulation
scanner 2010 is a device that includes a projector 2016 and one or
more cameras 2012, 2014. In a first mode of operation of the
triangulation scanner, the projector 2016 projects a single pattern
of light onto an object and the one or more cameras 2012, 2014
capture an image of the light reflected from the object. In this
mode of operation, the projected pattern includes elements having a
distinctive appearance that may be identified by the camera. Based
on this correspondence and on a baseline distance between the
projector 2016 and camera 2012 or 2014, the 3D coordinates of the
surface of the illuminated object may be determined. Alternatively,
for a system having two cameras 2012, 2014, the 3D coordinates may
be determined based on the correspondence between distinctive
elements on the first and second cameras and on the baseline
distance between the two cameras. The first mode of operation is
suitable for a handheld scanner since the scanner does not need to
be held steady while multiple images are captured.
[0154] In a second mode of operation of the triangulation scanner
2010, the projector 2016 sequentially projects multiple patterns of
light onto an object, which are captured by one or more cameras
2012, 2014. In an embodiment, the projected pattern of light has a
sinusoidal variation in phase over space that produces a
stripe-like appearance. The phase of the projected pattern is
varied in successive projections, and the intensities of light
observed at each pixel of the cameras 2012, 2014 is used in a
triangulation calculation to determine 3D coordinates of the object
surface. This sequential mode of triangulation is usually more
accurate than the single-shot mode. Because the mobile 3D measuring
system 2000 can be kept stationary during the measurement of
multiple phases, it is suitable for use with the relatively more
accurate sequential measurement method.
[0155] In a third mode of operation of a triangulation scanner, the
scanner is configured to arrange two cameras and a projector in a
triangle. In this case, a pattern of spots having no
distinguishable pattern may be projected onto an object and a
correspondence determined among spots projected on the object and
spots imaged by the two cameras. This embodiment of a triangulation
camera having the two cameras and one projector arranged in a
triangle is not shown in the figures.
[0156] FIG. 21 shows a mobile 3D measuring system 2100 together
with an automobile body-in-white 1900 surrounded by cooperative
targets 1910. In an embodiment, the 3D measuring device 1800
measures cooperative targets 2110 or 2120 mounted on a
triangulation scanner 2010. The 3D measuring device 1800 has the
ability to measure cooperative targets 2110 or 2120 and may also
have the ability to measure diffusely scattering surfaces of an
object 1900. At least three cooperative targets 2110 (regular SMRs
or tooling balls) or one six-DOF target assembly 2120 needs to be
measured to determine the position and orientation of the
triangulation scanner 2010 within the frame of reference of the
laser tracker 1700 or other 3D measuring device. In an embodiment,
the mobile 3D measuring system 2100 moves as needed to measure the
surface of the object 1900. It time it moves, the laser tracker
1700 or 3D measuring device 1810 measures the targets 2110 or 2120
to determine the position and orientation of the scanner 2010 in
the frame of reference of the tracker 1700 or combination 3D
measuring device 1810. If the cooperative targets on the mobile 3D
measuring system 2100 move out of view of the laser tracker, the
tracker moves to a new position and re-establishes the new position
in the frame of reference common with the first position. It does
this by measuring with the device 1800 three or more common
retroreflector targets 1910 from two or more different
locations.
[0157] FIG. 22 shows the mobile 3D measuring system 2000 together
with an automobile body-in-white 1900. In an embodiment, targets
2210 such as LEDs mounted on the mobile 3D measuring system 2000
are measured by two or more cameras 2220, 2230 to determine the
position and orientation of the mobile 3D measuring system 2000 in
a common frame of reference.
[0158] Methods are now described for use of the mobile 3D measuring
system 800 in building construction, particularly for monitoring
and evaluating construction and for providing assistance in
installing finish elements such as trim, cabinets, appliances,
countertops, and floor coverings.
[0159] In an embodiment, a mobile 3D measuring system 800 inspects
rooms on a floor in an unfinished building. If the building
includes more than one floor or a step-down or step-up transition,
the system 800 may need to be carried to the area to be inspected.
The mobile 3D measuring system 800 identifies doors, windows, and
floors that need to be trimmed, floors that need to be covered, and
doors that need to be installed.
[0160] Today, the usual method of trimming doors, windows, and
floors with moldings, casings, and the like is for a construction
worker to measure each dimension and hand cut each trim piece. This
method is time consuming and the fit of the trim piece is sometimes
not very good. In an embodiment, the system 800 uses the motorized
dolly 820 to move throughout a building measuring the size and
shape of each door, window, ceiling, and floor and provides the
requirements for the length and angle of cut of each trim element
to a construction manager, who places an order with a third party
fabrication company. The fabrication company provides all the trim
components labeled to indicate the location at which they are to be
installed in the house. The labels might be NFC tags, bar-codes, QR
codes, or written descriptions. The identifier label may be placed
on back side of the trim elements to prevent them from being seen
following installation. By providing all of the trim elements cut
and marked, the trim can be installed in a fraction of the time
that would otherwise be required.
[0161] In another embodiment, the size and shape of an uncovered
floor is measured and provided to a contractor who cuts the
building materials to the required size and shape. This can save
considerable time. For example, ceramic tiles can be time consuming
to cut on site but efficiently cut in an automated manufacturing
process.
[0162] Today, contractors create templates and perform other
measurements to determine the required sizes and shapes of
countertops and cabinets that match room dimensions, appliances,
and plumbing. Typical measuring methods, for example, using
templates, are relatively time consuming and prone to error. In an
embodiment, a mobile 3D measuring system 800 determines required
countertop and cabinet dimensions based at least in part on room
dimensions measured by the mobile 3D measuring system 800.
[0163] In an embodiment, if the distance measurements performed by
the 3D scanner 20 are based on an invisible infrared wavelength of
light, then the 3D scanner 20 also includes a visible beam of
light, which might for example be red light. To position elements
such as a kitchen island, the mobile 3D measuring system 800 emits
a visible beam of light that traces the pattern corresponding to
the correct shape and position of the island. If new plumbing is
needed for a bathtub in a bathroom, the mobile 3D measuring system
800 again emits a beam of red light marking out the required
location of the plumbing.
[0164] The mobile 3D measuring system 800 may measure the position
and orientation of cabinets during installation to indicate whether
each is plumb and to suggest any needed changes, for example,
through the use of shims. A visible beam of light may also be used
to mark a plumb line along a wall to assist in aligning cabinets or
appliances before screwing them in place.
[0165] In an embodiment, the desired location in a room for an
element such as a countertop or cabinet is found using an
electronic file provided by a designer. Such electronic design
files are expected to become much more common in the future. By
measuring the dimensions of a room with the mobile 3D measuring
system 800, the required positions and orientations of each element
in the room can be determined and indicated by the visible beam of
light from the 3D scanner 20. In an embodiment, the location of
this visible beam of light is based at least partly on 3D
measurements of the room by the mobile 3D measuring system 800.
[0166] In some cases, the scanner may, in its usual mode, spin
rapidly while measuring distances at high speed. For example, the
beam may measure more than one million points per second as it
spins around a horizontal axis. Other modes of operation besides
this high speed mode are possible. In another mode of operation, it
may slow the sample rate while simultaneously reducing the optical
power. For example, the sample rate may be slowed to 1000 points
per second. The reduced sample rate enables the optical power to be
reduced while maintaining relatively high accuracy (by averaging
out random noise). In this case, the beam, which may include both
red and infrared light, may be directed in any location and held in
that location without a potential eye safety danger. In still
another mode of operation, 3D coordinates of a surface are first
measured at high speed with infrared (invisible) light. Marks may
be then laid down in visible light over a pattern of interest based
on angles of projection.
[0167] Terms such as processor, controller, computer, DSP, FPGA are
understood in this document to mean a computing device that may be
located within an instrument, distributed in multiple elements
throughout an instrument, or placed external to an instrument.
[0168] In accordance with an embodiment, a method is provided that
includes providing a mobile three-dimensional (3D) measuring system
including a 3D time-of-flight (TOF) scanner coupled to a first
motorized stand and to a plurality of targets, the first motorized
stand including a plurality of motorized wheels configured to
propel and turn the first motorized stand under computer control. A
first image sensor is provided in an environment. A computer system
is provided in communication with the mobile 3D measuring system
and the first image sensor. The first image sensor obtains a first
image of the plurality of targets. The computer system determines a
first position of the mobile 3D measuring system within an
environment frame of reference, the first position based at least
in part on the first image. The first position is provided to the
mobile 3D measuring system. The mobile 3D measuring system
determines a position of the mobile 3D measuring system within the
environment frame of reference based at least in part on the
provided first position. A beam of scanner light is projected from
the 3D TOF scanner onto an object. The 3D TOF scanner, in response
to the projected beam of scanner light, measures first 3D
coordinates of a first point on the object. 3D coordinates of the
first point are determined in the environment frame of reference
based at least in part on the first 3D coordinates of the first
point and on the first position of the mobile 3D measuring system
in the environment frame of reference. The first 3D coordinates of
the first point in the environment frame of reference are
stored.
[0169] In accordance with an embodiment, the first image sensor is
a first two-dimensional (2D) camera. In accordance with another
embodiment, the first image sensor is a depth camera that measures
3D coordinates. In accordance with another embodiment, the method
further comprising providing a second image sensor, the second
image sensor being a second 2D camera, there being a baseline
distance between the first 2D camera and the second 2D camera.
[0170] In accordance with another embodiment, the method further
comprises obtaining with the second image sensor a second image of
the plurality of targets; and determining by the computer system
the first position of the mobile 3D measuring system within the
environment frame of reference further based on the second image.
In accordance with another embodiment, the method further comprises
providing a reference structure within a field of view of the first
image sensor, the reference structure having reference length
value, the reference length value being a calibrated length from a
first reference target to a second reference target on the
reference structure.
[0171] In accordance with another embodiment, the method further
comprises obtaining with the first image sensor a third image of
the first reference target and the second reference target; and
determining with the computer system the first position of the
mobile 3D measuring system within the environment further based on
the third image and the reference length value.
[0172] In accordance with another embodiment, the at least one of
the plurality of targets is selected from the group consisting of:
a light-emitting diode (LED), a reflective spot, and a
retroreflector. In accordance with another embodiment, the at least
one of the plurality of targets is a light-emitting diode (LED)
that is modulated in time.
[0173] In accordance with still another embodiment, method is
provided that includes providing a mobile three-dimensional (3D)
measuring system including a 3D time-of-flight (TOF) scanner
coupled to a first retroreflector, a second retroreflector, a third
retroreflector, and a first motorized stand, the first motorized
stand including a plurality of motorized wheels configured to
propel and turn the first motorized stand under computer control. A
3D measuring device is provided in a first device frame of
reference, the 3D measuring device configured to steer a device
beam of light onto a retroreflector target, to measure a distance,
a first angle, and a second angle from the 3D measuring device to
the retroreflector target, and to determine 3D coordinates of the
retroreflector target based at least on the measured distance, the
measured first angle, and the measured second angle. The first
motorized stand is activated to move the mobile 3D measuring system
to a first position. A beam of scanner light is projected from the
3D TOF scanner onto an object. The 3D TOF scanner measures, in
response to the projected beam of scanner light, first 3D
coordinates of a first point on the object. The 3D measuring device
measures first 3D coordinates of the first retroreflector, first 3D
coordinates of the second retroreflector, and first 3D coordinates
of the third retroreflector. Registered 3D coordinates of the first
point are determined in the first device frame of reference based
at least in part on the measured first 3D coordinates of the first
point on the object, the measured first 3D coordinates of the first
retroreflector, the measured first 3D coordinates of the second
retroreflector, and the measured first 3D coordinates of the third
retroreflector. The registered 3D coordinates of the first point
are stored. In accordance with another embodiment, the 3D measuring
device is selected from the group consisting of: a laser tracker, a
total station, and a laser radar.
[0174] In accordance with still another embodiment, a method is
provided that includes providing a mobile three-dimensional (3D)
measuring system including a 3D scanner coupled to a first
retroreflector, a second retroreflector, a third retroreflector,
and a first motorized stand, the first motorized stand including a
plurality of motorized wheels configured to propel and turn the
first motorized stand under computer control, the 3D scanner
including a projector and a camera, the projector configured to
project a pattern of light, the camera separated from the projector
by a baseline distance. A 3D measuring device is provided in a
first device frame of reference, the 3D measuring device configured
to steer a beam of light onto a retroreflector target, to measure a
distance, a first angle, and a second angle from the 3D measuring
device to the retroreflector target, and to determine 3D
coordinates of the retroreflector target based at least on the
measured distance, the measured first angle, and the measured
second angle. The first motorized stand is activated to move the
mobile 3D measuring system to a first position. The projector
projects a first pattern of light onto an object. The camera
captures a first image of the first pattern of light on the object.
First measured 3D coordinates of a first point on the object are
determined based at least in part on the projected first pattern of
light, the captured first image, and the baseline distance. The 3D
measuring device determines in the first device frame of reference
first 3D coordinates of the first retroreflector, first 3D
coordinates of the second retroreflector, and first 3D coordinates
of the third retroreflector. Registered 3D coordinates of the first
point are determined in the first device frame of reference based
at least in part on the first measured 3D coordinates of the first
point, the first 3D coordinates of the first retroreflector, the
first 3D coordinates of the second retroreflector, and the first 3D
coordinates of the third retroreflector. The registered 3D
coordinates of the first point are stored.
[0175] In accordance with another embodiment, the method further
comprises activating the first motorized stand to move the mobile
3D measuring system to a second position. The projector projects a
second pattern of light onto the object. The camera captures a
second image of the second pattern of light on the object. A second
measured 3D coordinates of a second point on the object is measured
based at least in part on the projected second pattern of light,
the captured second image, and the baseline distance. A second 3D
coordinates of the first retroreflector, a second 3D coordinates of
the second retroreflector, and a second 3D coordinates of the third
retroreflector are determined in the first device frame of
reference with the 3D measuring device. A registered 3D coordinates
of the second point in the first device frame of reference is
determined based at least in part on the measured second 3D
coordinates of the second point, the measured second 3D coordinates
of the first retroreflector, the measured second 3D coordinates of
the second retroreflector, and the measured second 3D coordinates
of the third retroreflector.
[0176] In accordance with another embodiment, the method further
comprises moving the 3D measuring device to a second device frame
of reference. A third pattern of light is projected with the
projector onto the object. A third image of the third pattern of
light on the object is captured with the camera. A third measured
3D coordinates of a third point on the object is determined based
at least in part on the projected third pattern of light, the
captured third image, and the baseline distance. A third 3D
coordinates of the first retroreflector, a third 3D coordinates of
the second retroreflector, and a third 3D coordinates of the third
retroreflector are determined with the 3D measuring device in the
second device frame of reference. A registered 3D coordinates of
the third point in the first device frame of reference is
determined based at least in part on the measured third 3D
coordinates of the third point, the measured second 3D coordinates
of the first retroreflector, the measured second 3D coordinates of
the second retroreflector, the measured second 3D coordinates of
the third retroreflector, the measured third 3D coordinates of the
first retroreflector, the measured third 3D coordinates of the
second retroreflector, and the measured third 3D coordinates of the
third retroreflector.
[0177] In accordance with another embodiment, the method further
comprises providing, in the first device frame of reference, a
fourth retroreflector, a fifth retroreflector, and a sixth
retroreflector, wherein the fourth retroreflector, the fifth
retroreflector, and the sixth retroreflector are not coupled to the
3D scanner. A first 3D coordinates of the fourth retroreflector, a
first 3D coordinates of the fifth retroreflector, and a first 3D
coordinates of the sixth retroreflector are determined with the 3D
measuring device in the first device frame of reference. The 3D
measuring device is moved to a second device frame of reference. A
second 3D coordinates of the fourth retroreflector, a second 3D
coordinates of the fifth retroreflector, and a second 3D
coordinates of the sixth retroreflector are determined with the 3D
measuring device in the second device frame of reference. A third
pattern of light is projected with a projector onto the object. A
third image of the third pattern of light on the object is captured
with a camera. A third measured 3D coordinates of a third point on
the object is determined based at least in part on the projected
third pattern of light, the captured third image, and the baseline
distance. A registered 3D coordinates of the third point in the
first device frame of reference is determined based at least in
part on the measured third 3D coordinates of the third point, the
measured first 3D coordinates of the fourth retroreflector, the
measured first 3D coordinates of the fifth retroreflector, the
measured first 3D coordinates of the sixth retroreflector, the
measured second 3D coordinates of the fourth retroreflector, the
measured second 3D coordinates of the fifth retroreflector, and the
measured second 3D coordinates of the sixth retroreflector.
[0178] In accordance with another embodiment, the method further
comprises providing a second motorized stand, the second motorized
stand coupled to the 3D measuring device, the second motorized
stand including a second plurality of motorized wheels configured
to propel the second motorized stand under computer control. In
accordance with an embodiment, the 3D measuring device is selected
from the group consisting of: a laser tracker, a total station, and
a laser radar.
[0179] In accordance with still another embodiment, a method is
provided that includes providing a mobile three-dimensional (3D)
measuring system including a 3D scanner coupled to a first six
degree-of-freedom (six-DOF) retroreflector target and a first
motorized stand, the first motorized stand including a plurality of
motorized wheels configured to propel and turn the first motorized
stand under computer control, the 3D scanner including a projector
and a camera, the projector configured to project a pattern of
light, the camera separated from the projector by a baseline
distance. A six-DOF laser tracker is provided configured to
determine six degrees of freedom of a six-DOF retroreflector
target. The first motorized stand is activated to move the mobile
3D measuring system to a first position. A first pattern of light
is provided with a projector onto an object. A first image of the
first pattern of light on the object is captured with a camera. A
first measured 3D coordinates of a first point on the object is
determined based at least in part on the projected first pattern of
light, the captured first image, and the baseline distance. A first
six-DOF values of the first six-DOF retroreflector target are
determined with the six-DOF laser tracker in a first device frame
of reference. A registered 3D coordinates of the first point in the
first device frame of reference is determined based at least in
part on the first measured 3D coordinates of the first point and
the first six-DOF values of the first six-DOF retroreflector
target. The registered 3D coordinates of the first point are
stored.
[0180] In accordance with another embodiment, the method further
comprises activating the first motorized stand to move the mobile
3D measuring system to a second position. A second pattern of light
is projected with a projector onto the object. A second image of
the second pattern of light on the object is captured with a
camera. A second measured 3D coordinates of a second point on the
object is determined based at least in part on the projected second
pattern of light, the captured second image, and the baseline
distance. A second six-DOF values of the first six-DOF
retroreflector target are determined with the six-DOF laser tracker
in the first device frame of reference. A registered 3D coordinates
of the second point in the first device frame of reference is
determined based at least in part on the second measured 3D
coordinates of the second point and the second six-DOF values of
the first six-DOF retroreflector target.
[0181] In accordance with an embodiment, the method further
comprises moving the six-DOF laser tracker to a second device frame
of reference. A third six-DOF values of the first six-DOF
retroreflector target are determined with the six-DOF laser tracker
in the second device frame of reference. A third pattern of light
is projected with the projector onto the object. A third image of
the third pattern of light on the object is captured with a camera.
A third measured 3D coordinates of a third point on the object are
determined based at least in part on the third pattern of light,
the captured third image, and the baseline distance. A third
six-DOF values of the first six-DOF retroreflector target are
determined with the six-DOF laser tracker, determining in the
second device frame of reference. A registered 3D coordinates of
the third point in the first device frame of reference are
determined based at least in part on the third measured 3D
coordinates of the third point, the second six-DOF values of the
first six-DOF retroreflector target, and the third six-DOF values
of the first six-DOF retroreflector target.
[0182] In accordance with still another embodiment, a method is
provided that includes providing a mobile three-dimensional (3D)
measuring system including a 3D scanner coupled to a first
motorized stand and to a plurality of targets, the first motorized
stand including a plurality of motorized wheels configured to
propel and turn the first motorized stand under computer control,
the 3D scanner including a projector and a camera, the projector
configured to project a pattern of light, the camera separated from
the projector by a scanner baseline distance. A computer system is
provided in communication with the mobile 3D measuring system. A
first image sensor is provided in an environment frame of
reference. A first image of the plurality of targets is obtained
with the first image sensor. A first position of the mobile 3D
measuring system is determined by the computer system within the
environment frame of reference based at least in part on the first
image. The first position is provided to the mobile 3D measuring
system. A position of the 3D measuring system within the
environment frame of reference is determined by the mobile 3D
measuring system based at least in part on the first position. The
determined position of the 3D measuring system within the
environment frame of reference is stored.
[0183] In accordance with another embodiment, the first image
sensor is a first two-dimensional (2D) camera. In accordance with
another embodiment, the first image sensor is a depth camera that
measures 3D coordinates. In accordance with another embodiment, in
determining by the mobile 3D measuring system the position within
the environment frame of reference, the determining is further
based on a map of surroundings through which the mobile 3D
measuring system moves. In accordance with another embodiment, the
method further comprises providing a second image sensor, the
second image sensor being a second 2D camera, there being an
image-sensor baseline distance between the first 2D camera and the
second 2D camera.
[0184] In accordance with another embodiment, the method further
comprises obtaining with a second image sensor a second image of
the plurality of targets. In accordance with an embodiment, the
determining by the computer system the first position of the mobile
3D measuring system within the environment frame of reference
further based on the second image and an image-sensor baseline
distance. In accordance with an embodiment, the at least one of the
plurality of targets is selected from the group consisting of: a
light-emitting diode (LED), a reflective spot, and a
retroreflector. In accordance with an embodiment, at least one of
the plurality of targets is a light-emitting diode (LED) that is
modulated in time.
[0185] In accordance with still another embodiment, a method is
provided that includes providing a mobile three-dimensional (3D)
measuring system that includes a 3D measuring device and a
motorized stand. The mobile 3D measuring system is moved, with the
motorized stand, to a first position, measuring with the 3D
measuring device 3D coordinates of a first point on a diffusely
scattering surface, and measuring with the 3D measuring device
first 3D coordinates of at least three cooperative targets. The
mobile 3D measuring system is moved, with the motorized stand, to a
second position, measuring with the 3D measuring device 3D
coordinates of a second point on the diffusely scattering surface,
and measuring with the 3D measuring device second 3D coordinates of
the at least three cooperative targets. A 3D coordinates of the
first point and the second point in a common frame of reference are
determined based at least in part on the measured 3D coordinates of
the first point, the measured 3D coordinates of the second point,
the measured first 3D coordinates of the at least three cooperative
targets at the first position, and the measured second 3D
coordinates of the at least three cooperative targets measured at
the second position. The determined 3D coordinates of the first
point and the second point in the common frame of reference are
stored.
[0186] In accordance with an embodiment, the 3D measuring device is
configured to measure at least one cooperative target selected from
the group consisting of: a cube-corner retroreflector, a cateye
retroreflector, and a tooling ball. In accordance with an
embodiment, the 3D measuring device is further configured in a mode
of operation to focus light from the 3D measuring device onto the
diffusely scattering surface.
[0187] In accordance with still another embodiment, a method is
provided that includes providing a plurality of mobile
three-dimensional (3D) measuring systems, each system including a
3D measuring device and a motorized stand, each 3D measuring device
configured to project light onto a point and to determine 3D
coordinates of the point by measuring a distance, a first angle,
and a second angle to the point. A user interface is provided that
is configured to enable user control of the plurality of mobile 3D
measuring systems. Actions of the plurality of mobile 3D measuring
systems are directed concurrently through the user interface by an
operator.
[0188] In accordance with an embodiment, the at least one 3D
measuring system includes a 3D measuring device having a 3D
time-of-flight scanner. In accordance with an embodiment, the at
least one 3D measuring system includes a 3D measuring device having
a triangulation scanner. In accordance with an embodiment, the at
least one 3D measuring system includes a laser tracker. In
accordance with an embodiment, the at least one 3D measuring system
includes a 3D measuring device that is configured to measure 3D
coordinates of a retroreflector and in addition is configured to
measure 3D coordinates of a diffusely reflecting surface. In
accordance with an embodiment, wherein the method further comprises
sending instructions to the plurality of mobile 3D measuring
systems through a network computer.
[0189] In accordance with an embodiment, in the step of
concurrently directing actions, each of the plurality of mobile 3D
measuring systems disregards any direction that would result in a
collision with a person or an object. In accordance with an
embodiment, the user interface includes a virtual reality wearable
device. In accordance with an embodiment, the user interface
includes an immersive headset. In accordance with an embodiment,
the user interface includes augmented reality eyeglasses. In
accordance with an embodiment, the user interface includes a
touchscreen display. In accordance with an embodiment, the user
interface includes a plurality of display monitors. In accordance
with an embodiment, the method further comprises providing to the
user interface 3D information collected by one or more of the
plurality of mobile 3D measuring systems as selected by the
operator through the user interface.
[0190] In accordance with an embodiment, the method comprises
directing, by the operator, the mobile 3D measuring system to
obtain 3D measurements of an object and to compare the obtained 3D
measurements to characteristics of the object, the characteristics
of the object being stored in memory, the characteristics of the
object being accessible to the operator through the user interface.
In accordance with an embodiment, the method further comprises
updating the characteristics of the object as stored in memory, the
updating based at least in part a difference in the obtained 3D
measurements of the object and the characteristics of the object as
stored in memory.
[0191] In accordance with an embodiment, the method further
comprises identifying an object based as least in part on a
comparison of a 3D measurement of the object by the mobile 3D
measuring system and a representation of the object as stored in
memory. In accordance with an embodiment, the user interface is
configured to enable the operator to extract performance
information associated with the identified object, the performance
information being selected from the group consisting of: number of
items, size of items, items in inventory, defect rate, and
production rate. In accordance with an embodiment, the method
further comprises a step of reading a tag associated with the
identified object, the tag being one of a bar-code tag, a QR-code
tag, or a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag.
[0192] In accordance with an embodiment, the method further
comprises obtaining from memory a collection of paths within an
environment. A first mobile 3D measuring system selected by the
operator from the plurality of mobile 3D measuring systems is sent
along a path within the environment. A width of an unobstructed
passage of the path is determined with the 3D measuring system. In
accordance with an embodiment, the method further comprises
providing an alarm indication if the width of the unobstructed
passage of the path is less than a predetermined minimum passage
width.
[0193] In accordance with still another embodiment, a method is
provided that includes providing a mobile 3D measuring system
including a 3D measuring device and a motorized stand, the 3D
measuring device configured to project light onto a point and to
determine 3D coordinates of the point by measuring a distance, a
first angle, and a second angle to the point. The motorized stand
is activated to locate building elements in need of trim. A size
and shape of each required trim element is measured with the mobile
3D measuring system. A link is provided between a building location
and a trim dimensions.
[0194] In accordance with another embodiment, in activating the
motorized stand to locate the building elements in need of trim,
the mobile 3D measuring system inspects a room to identify elements
in need of trim. In accordance with another embodiment, the trim is
measured for the elements selected from the group consisting of
doors, windows, floors, and ceilings. In accordance with another
embodiment, the method further comprises cutting the trim according
to the measured sizes and shapes. In accordance with another
embodiment, the method further comprises a step of attaching an
identifier label on each trim element, the identifier label
reflecting the link between building location and a trim element
dimensions.
[0195] In accordance with still another embodiment, a method is
provided that includes providing a mobile 3D measuring system
including a 3D measuring device and a motorized stand, the 3D
measuring device configured to project light onto a point and to
determine 3D coordinates of the point by measuring a distance, a
first angle, and a second angle to the point. A size and shape of a
floor region is measured with the mobile 3D measuring system. A
floor covering is cut to the measured sizes and shape of the floor
region.
[0196] In accordance with still another embodiment, a method is
provided that includes providing a mobile 3D measuring system
including a 3D measuring device and a motorized stand, the 3D
measuring device configured to project light onto a point and to
determine 3D coordinates of the point by measuring a distance, a
first angle, and a second angle to the point. An electronics design
plan is obtained. Obtaining measured 3D information by scanning a
room with the mobile 3D measuring system. An electronic information
giving detailed shape and size of at least one countertop is
generated based at least in part on the electronics design plan and
the measured 3D information.
[0197] In accordance with still another embodiment, a method is
provided that includes providing a mobile 3D measuring system
including a 3D measuring device and a motorized stand, the
motorized stand configured to move the 3D measuring device under
computer control, the 3D measuring device configured to project
light onto a point and to determine 3D coordinates of the point by
measuring a distance, a first angle, and a second angle to the
point, the 3D measuring device further configured to emit a visible
beam of light as a pointer beam. A 3D coordinates of objects in an
environment is measured with the 3D measuring device. Electronic
plans are provided indicating a desired location of a construction
installation line within the environment. The visible beam of light
is emitted with the 3D measuring device to illuminate the
construction installation line in the environment, the illuminated
construction installation line positioned within the environment
based at least in part on measured 3D coordinates of objects in the
environment and on the electronic plans.
[0198] While the invention has been described in detail in
connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be
readily understood that the invention is not limited to such
disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to
incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or
equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are
commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention.
Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been
described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may
include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the
invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing
description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *