Virtual Environment capture

• US 20040109012A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leidos, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
• Inventors: Kraus, Matthew, Graniela, Benito, Pigora, Mary
• Granted Patent: US 7,398,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/700
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/08 involving all processing steps from image acquisition to 3D model generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/50 Depth or shape recovery

Abstract

A system and method for capturing and modeling an environment is described. A user may direct a rangefinder within an environment to capture data points and correlate the data points with predefined objects. One may also capture images of the environment to be used in the modeling environment. Using the present system, one may easily and quickly capture an environment using relatively few data points.

Claims

1. A modeling system comprising:

a data capture unit receiving environment data, said data capture unit including a rangefinder where the specific points measured by the rangefinder are selectable by a user;

a data assembly station receiving information from said data capture unit, said data assembly station modeling an environment based on environment data captured by said data capture unit.

2. The modeling system according to claim 1, wherein said data capture unit further comprises:

additional information capture sensors.

3. The modeling system according to claim 1, wherein said environment data includes distance information from said data capture unit to an object.

4. The modeling system according to claim 1, wherein said environment data includes image information of an object.

5. The modeling system according to claim 1, wherein said data capture unit further comprises:

a display that displays a user interface, said user interface providing a user with options for selecting objects to be placed in said environment.

6. The modeling system according to claim 1, wherein said data capture unit includes a multi-jointed arm supporting said rangefinder and a camera.

7. The modeling station according to claim 1, wherein said data capture unit includes an object library, a processor, and a user interface.

8. The modeling station according to claim 1, wherein said rangefinder is a laser rangefinder.

9. The modeling system according to claim 1, wherein said data capture unit includes a camera.

33. The modeling system according to claim 5, further including an input through which a user may specify assumptions associated with the modeling of an environment.

34. The modeling system according to claim 5, further including an input through which a user may specify one or more object libraries to be used for modeling an environment.

35. The modeling system according to claim 1, wherein said rangefinder is a handheld rangefinder.

10. A process for constructing a virtual object based on actual environment data comprising the steps of:

receiving an identification of an object to be created;

receiving at least one point to be associated with said object, said at least one point identified by a rangefinder;

instantiating said object based on said at least one point.

11. The process according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining additional points;

modifying said instantiated object based on said additional points.

12. The process according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

instructing a user which points of said object a user is to capture with said rangefinder.

13. The process according to claim 12, wherein said points are from locations on a physical object in a room to be modeled.

14. The process according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

capturing image information with a camera associated with said rangefinder; and

,

adding image information to said object.

15. The process according to claim 10, wherein said rangefinder is a laser rangefinder.

16. A computer display having a user interface for guiding a user in constructing a virtual environment comprising:

a first region showing created objects within an environment; and

a second region providing options for a user including selection of an object to place within said environment,

wherein said object is placed within the environment shown in said first region in response to information obtained by a rangefinder.

17. The display according to claim 16, further comprising:

a third region showing a perspective view of said environment including said objects.

18. The display according to claim 16, wherein at least one of said objects includes image information from a camera.

19. The display according to claim 16, wherein said rangefinder is a laser rangefinder.

20. A process for reducing errors in a rendered environment comprising the steps of:

modeling a first room from a first position within said first room;

modeling at least a second room connected to said first room;

returning to said first position within said first room and obtaining distance information from said first position;

determining an error value associated with the environment based on the second reading from said first position; and

,

sequentially subtracting the error value from the modeling of said first and said at least second room.

21. The process according to claim 20, further the step of:

modeling at least a third room connected to said second room.

22. A modeling system comprising:

a contextual data capture unit receiving environment data, said data capture unit including a rangefinder where the specific points measured by the rangefinder are selectable by a user;

a data assembly station receiving information from said data capture unit, said data assembly station modeling an environment based on environment data captured by said data capture unit.

23. The modeling system according to claim 22, wherein said data capture unit further comprises:

additional information capture sensors.

24. The modeling system according to claim 22, wherein said environment data includes distance information from said data capture unit to an object.

25. The modeling system according to claim 22, wherein said environment data includes image information of an object.

26. The modeling system according to claim 22, wherein said data capture unit further comprises:

a display that displays a user interface, said user interface providing a user with options for selecting objects to be placed in said environment.

27. The modeling system according to claim 22, wherein said data capture unit includes a multi-jointed arm supporting said rangefinder and a camera.

28. The modeling station according to claim 22, wherein said data capture unit includes an object library, a processor, and a user interface.

29. The modeling station according to claim 22, wherein said rangefinder is a laser rangefinder.

30. The modeling system according to claim 22, wherein said data capture unit includes a camera.

31. The modeling system according to claim 26, further including an input through which a user may specify assumptions associated with the modeling of an environment.

32. The modeling system according to claim 26, further including an input through which a user may specify one or more object libraries to be used for modeling an environment.

36. The modeling system according to claim 22, wherein said rangefinder is a handheld rangefinder.