Methods for localization using geotagged photographs and three-dimensional visualization
First Claim
1. A method for identifying a part of a target object, comprising:
- (a) acquiring reference location image data, first geolocation data and first heading angle data using an imaging device directed toward the target object and located at a known reference location relative to a coordinate system of the target object;
(b) acquiring feature location image data, second geolocation data and second heading angle data using an imaging device directed toward an area on the target object and located at an unknown feature location relative to the coordinate system of the target object;
(c) computing an offset in Cartesian coordinates between the feature location and the reference location, wherein the offset is a function of coordinates in said first and second geolocation data and heading angles in said first and second heading angle data;
(d) retrieving three-dimensional model data of the target object from a three-dimensional model database;
(e) displaying a three-dimensional model image of at least a portion of the target object with a viewpoint that is a function of the offset computed in step (c) and the camera field-of-view angle, said three-dimensional model image representing said three-dimensional model data retrieved from the three-dimensional model database;
(f) displaying a feature location image of the same portion of the target object as an overlay or background to said three-dimensional model image, said feature location image representing at least portions of said feature location image data;
(g) selecting a point in the displayed feature location image;
(h) retrieving additional three-dimensional model data from the three-dimensional model database in response to said selecting; and
(i) displaying symbology representing the retrieved additional three-dimensional model data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for identifying parts of a target object (e.g., an airplane) using geotagged photographs captured on site by a hand-held imaging device. The geotagged photographs contain GPS location data and camera setting information. The embedded image metadata from two or more photographs is used to estimate the location (i.e., position and orientation) of the imaging device relative to the target object, which location is defined in the coordinate system of the target object. Once the coordinates of the area of interest on the target object are known, the part number and other information associated with the part can be determined when the imaging device viewpoint information is provided to a three-dimensional visualization environment that has access to three-dimensional models of the target object.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for identifying a part of a target object, comprising:
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(a) acquiring reference location image data, first geolocation data and first heading angle data using an imaging device directed toward the target object and located at a known reference location relative to a coordinate system of the target object; (b) acquiring feature location image data, second geolocation data and second heading angle data using an imaging device directed toward an area on the target object and located at an unknown feature location relative to the coordinate system of the target object; (c) computing an offset in Cartesian coordinates between the feature location and the reference location, wherein the offset is a function of coordinates in said first and second geolocation data and heading angles in said first and second heading angle data; (d) retrieving three-dimensional model data of the target object from a three-dimensional model database; (e) displaying a three-dimensional model image of at least a portion of the target object with a viewpoint that is a function of the offset computed in step (c) and the camera field-of-view angle, said three-dimensional model image representing said three-dimensional model data retrieved from the three-dimensional model database; (f) displaying a feature location image of the same portion of the target object as an overlay or background to said three-dimensional model image, said feature location image representing at least portions of said feature location image data; (g) selecting a point in the displayed feature location image; (h) retrieving additional three-dimensional model data from the three-dimensional model database in response to said selecting; and (i) displaying symbology representing the retrieved additional three-dimensional model data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for identifying a part of a target object, comprising:
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(a) acquiring reference location image data, first geolocation data and first heading angle data using an imaging device directed toward the target object and located at a known reference location relative to a coordinate system of the target object; (b) constructing a reference location data file containing at least said reference location image data, said first geolocation data and said first heading angle data; (c) acquiring feature location image data, second geolocation data and second heading angle data using an imaging device directed toward an area on the target object and located at an unknown feature location relative to the coordinate system of the target object; (d) constructing a feature location data file containing at least said feature location image data, said second geolocation data and said second heading angle data; (e) sending the reference and feature location data files from the imaging device to a computer system; (f) computing an offset between the feature location and the reference location, wherein the offset is a function of coordinates in said first and second geolocation data and heading angles in said first and second heading angle data; (g) retrieving three-dimensional model data of the target object from a three-dimensional model database; (h) displaying a three-dimensional model image of at least a portion of the target object with a viewpoint that is a function of the offset computed in step (f) and the field-of-view angle of the imaging device, said three-dimensional model image representing said three-dimensional model data retrieved from the three-dimensional model database; and (i) displaying a feature location image of the same portion of the target object as an overlay or background to said three-dimensional model image, said feature location image representing at least portions of said feature location image data, wherein steps (f) through (i) are performed by the computer system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising a digital camera, a GPS receiver, a digital compass, a display screen, a non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium storing three-dimensional model data of a target object, a three-dimensional visualization software application, and an offset computation software application, and a computer system configured to perform the following operations:
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(a) computing an offset between a feature location of said digital camera and a reference location of said digital camera using offset computation software application, wherein the offset is a function of coordinates in geolocation data acquired by said GPS receiver and heading angle data acquired by said digital compass during capture of reference and feature location image data by said digital camera; (b) retrieving said three-dimensional model data of the target object from said non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium; (c) using said three-dimensional visualization software application to control said display screen to display a three-dimensional model image of at least a portion of the target object with a viewpoint that is a function of the offset computed in operation (a) and the field-of-view angle of the digital camera, said three-dimensional model image representing said three-dimensional model data retrieved from the three-dimensional model database; and (d) using said three-dimensional visualization software application to control said display screen to display a feature location image of the same portion of the target object as an overlay or background to said three-dimensional model image, said feature location image representing at least portions of said feature location image data captured by said digital camera. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification