Laser-assisted image processing

• US 10,169,856 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2016
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Farnsworth, Anthony Scott, Newmark, Jordan A., Swain, Kathleen L., Voutour, Teddy Joseph Edmond, Gingrich, Jess W., Allen, Michael J., Castiglione, Anthony G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sood, Anshul
• Application Number:
  US15/174,471
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/24 Classification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10028 Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10032 Satellite or aerial image; Remote sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30108 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30184 Infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30212 Military
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/254 involving subtraction of images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/521 from laser ranging, e.g. using interferometry; from the projection of structured light
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/13 Satellite images
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/17 taken from planes or by drones

Abstract

Unmanned vehicles can be terrestrial, aerial, nautical, or multi-mode. Unmanned vehicles may be used to survey a property in response to or in anticipation of damage to an object. For example, an unmanned vehicle may project a laser pattern and use information associated with the laser pattern to determine characteristics of the object.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, the memory having stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

generating an image of light projected on an object, wherein a source of the light has a design;

extracting a first pattern of the light as it appears projected on the object from the image;

determining, based on comparing the first pattern to a second pattern, a distortion of the first pattern, the second pattern comprising a predetermined baseline image of the design; and

determining a characteristic of the object based on the distortion of the first pattern.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a roof.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a vehicle.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the characteristic comprises an angle.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the characteristic comprises a pitch of a roof.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the second pattern has known dimensions;

and

wherein the determining the distortion of the first pattern comprises determining, based on the known dimensions, dimensions of the first pattern.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise converting the image to an orthographic projection.

8. A method comprising:

generating an image of light projected on an object, wherein a source of the light has a design;

extracting a first pattern of the light as it appears projected on the object from the image;

determining, based on comparing the first pattern to a second pattern, a distortion of the first pattern, the second pattern comprising a predetermined baseline image of the design; and

determining a characteristic of the object based on the distortion of the first pattern.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the object comprises a roof.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the object comprises a vehicle.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the characteristic comprises a pitch of a roof.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the characteristic comprises a type of material.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining the comparing the first pattern to the second pattern comprises comparing a portion of the first pattern corresponding to a segment of the design to a portion of the second pattern corresponding to the segment of the design.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the comparing the first pattern to the second pattern comprises comparing a distance between at least two pixels of the first pattern to a distance between at least two pixels of the second pattern corresponding to the at least two pixels of the first pattern.

15. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, the memory having stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

illuminating an object with a laser having a design;

determining a scattering response of the laser on the object;

comparing the scattering response of the laser on the object to a predetermined scattering response, wherein the predetermined scattering response is based on the design; and

providing a classification of at least a portion of the object based on the comparing the scattering response of the laser on the object to the predetermined scattering response.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the object comprises a roof.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the object comprises a vehicle.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the classification comprises an indication of hail damage.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the classification comprises an indication of tree damage to a roof.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the device comprises a camera.