Generation of 3D models of an environment
First Claim
1. A method of generating a 3D reconstruction of an environment around a monitoring-unit as the monitoring-unit is moved through the environment, the method comprising:
- providing at least a camera and a LIDAR sensor, wherein the camera and the LIDAR sensor are provided at a fixed, predetermined, orientation relative to one another and are controlled by independent clocks;
using the camera to determine a trajectory of the monitoring-unit as the monitoring-unit moves through the environment;
determining a first time series using the clock of the camera, where the first time series details when the monitoring-unit was at predetermined points of the trajectory;
scanning the environment with the LIDAR sensor;
recording returns from the LIDAR sensor;
determining a second time series using the clock of the LIDAR sensor, where the second time series details when each scan from the LIDAR sensor was taken;
processing the first and second time series;
using a timer to relate the first and second time series in order to match the returns from the LIDAR sensor to a point on the trajectory at which a return was received; and
creating, using the fixed, predetermined, orientation between the camera and the LIDAR sensor, the 3D reconstruction based upon the returns.
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Abstract
Generating a 3D reconstruction of an environment around a monitoring-unit as that monitoring-unit is moved through the environment: a) providing at least a camera and a LIDAR sensor, each being controlled by independent clocks; b) using the camera to determine the trajectory of the monitoring-unit and determining a first time series using the clock of the camera, where the first time series details when the monitoring-unit was at predetermined points of the trajectory; c) recording the returns from the LIDAR sensor and determining a second time series using the clock of the LIDAR sensor, where the second time series details when each scan from the LIDAR was taken; d) using a timer to relate the first and second series in order to match the return from the LIDAR sensor to the point on the trajectory at which the return was received; and e) creating the 3D reconstruction based upon the LIDAR returns using information from the two time series.
30 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of generating a 3D reconstruction of an environment around a monitoring-unit as the monitoring-unit is moved through the environment, the method comprising:
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providing at least a camera and a LIDAR sensor, wherein the camera and the LIDAR sensor are provided at a fixed, predetermined, orientation relative to one another and are controlled by independent clocks; using the camera to determine a trajectory of the monitoring-unit as the monitoring-unit moves through the environment; determining a first time series using the clock of the camera, where the first time series details when the monitoring-unit was at predetermined points of the trajectory; scanning the environment with the LIDAR sensor; recording returns from the LIDAR sensor; determining a second time series using the clock of the LIDAR sensor, where the second time series details when each scan from the LIDAR sensor was taken; processing the first and second time series; using a timer to relate the first and second time series in order to match the returns from the LIDAR sensor to a point on the trajectory at which a return was received; and creating, using the fixed, predetermined, orientation between the camera and the LIDAR sensor, the 3D reconstruction based upon the returns. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A monitoring unit comprising:
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processing circuitry arranged to receive data from each of a camera and a LIDAR sensor; wherein the camera is controlled by a first clock, which provides a first time series, and the camera is mounted in a fixed orientation relative to the monitoring unit and wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to generate a trajectory from the data received from the camera; wherein the LIDAR sensor is controlled by a second clock, which provides a second time series, and the LIDAR sensor is mounted in a fixed orientation relative to the monitoring unit and wherein the LIDAR sensor is arranged to scan the environment of the monitoring unit as the monitoring unit is moved through the environment; and wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to; receive the data from the LIDAR sensor in addition to the data from the camera, process the first and second time series, use a timer to relate the first and second time series together, match the data from the LIDAR sensor to the trajectory, and generate a 3D reconstruction of the environment from the matched data. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification