3-D measurements using a video camera and a range finder

The geometric modeling of the environment can be carried out by incorporating a video camera range finder. When the quality of images is poor, the range finder, which is mounted on a site and azimuth rotation turret, brings an indispensable complement by measures of depth. The purpose of this paper is to build a geometric database of a three-dimensional (3-D) world in telerobotic applications. The calibration of the sensor system is presented by focusing on models of the range finder and methods we studied to determine them. The experimental results allow the evaluation of models and methods in terms of accuracy and stability. We show how the problem of setting up the 3-D geometric database can be solved by cooperation between human operator and sensors. Two cases are treated for database updating: determining the right position of known objects and inserting an embodying volume to model unknown objects. The experimental results concerning object modeling of cylindrical and polyhedral pattern and are given in terms of volume dimensions and position errors.