Extraction of Rotational Surfaces and Generalized Cylinders from Point-Clouds Using Section Curves

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 901-910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshitaka Midorikawa ◽  
◽  
Hiroshi Masuda
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Section Plane ◽  
Industrial Facilities ◽  
Rotational Surface ◽  
Intersection Points ◽  
Generalized Cylinders ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Actual Point ◽  
Rotational Surfaces

In industrial facilities, there are various types of equipment composed of surfaces that have a high degree of freedom. Rotational surfaces and generalized cylinders are often used for equipment handling liquids and gases. In this paper, we propose methods for reconstructing rotational surfaces and generalized cylinders from noisy and incomplete point-clouds captured by a terrestrial laser scanner. In our method, we convert point-clouds into wireframe models and calculate the intersection points with section planes. Then, we extract ellipses from the intersection points on each section plane and reconstruct the rotational surfaces and generalized cylinders using the extracted ellipses. We also propose a method for subdividing a rotational surface into primitive surfaces. We evaluated our method using actual point-clouds of engineering facilities and confirmed that our method could successfully reconstruct rotational surfaces and generalized cylinders.

Extraction of Surfaces Using Section Curves for Engineering Plants

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshitaka Midorikawa ◽  
Hiroshi Masuda
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Shape Reconstruction ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Industrial Facilities ◽  
3D Data ◽  
Reconstruction Methods ◽  
Generalized Cylinders

For simulating renovation of industrial facilities, 3D models are very useful. However, it is time-consuming to create 3D models. The terrestrial laser scanner is effective for easily capturing 3D data of large-scale facilities. So far, many researchers have proposed methods for reconstructing pipe structures in industrial plants using point-clouds. In those methods, planes and cylinders are extracted from point-clouds, but they are not enough for creating various types of equipment. Especially, in manufacturing plants for liquids and gases, rotating surfaces and generalized cylinders are typically used as well as planes and cylinders. In this paper, this paper proposes methods for extracting rotating surfaces and generalized cylinders from noisy and incomplete point-clouds. Since the section shapes of rotating surfaces and generalized cylinders are approximately ellipses, this method detects elliptic section shapes from point-clouds. Then rotating surfaces and generalized cylinders are reconstructed by extracting the center curves and section circles. Then the authors combine this method with general-purpose voxel-based shape reconstruction methods. Since this method is robust to missing points caused by occlusion, the quality of shape reconstruction can be improved even if points are partly missing due to occlusion.

scholarly journals Fitting Terrestrial Laser Scanner Point Clouds with T-Splines: Local Refinement Strategy for Rigid Body Motion

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2494
Author(s):  
Gaël Kermarrec ◽  
Niklas Schild ◽  
Jan Hartmann
Keyword(s):  
Point Cloud ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Statistical Testing ◽  
Computational Time ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanner ◽  
Reference Surface ◽  
Local Refinement ◽  
Surface Approximation

T-splines have recently been introduced to represent objects of arbitrary shapes using a smaller number of control points than the conventional non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS) or B-spline representatizons in computer-aided design, computer graphics and reverse engineering. They are flexible in representing complex surface shapes and economic in terms of parameters as they enable local refinement. This property is a great advantage when dense, scattered and noisy point clouds are approximated using least squares fitting, such as those from a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS). Unfortunately, when it comes to assessing the goodness of fit of the surface approximation with a real dataset, only a noisy point cloud can be approximated: (i) a low root mean squared error (RMSE) can be linked with an overfitting, i.e., a fitting of the noise, and should be correspondingly avoided, and (ii) a high RMSE is synonymous with a lack of details. To address the challenge of judging the approximation, the reference surface should be entirely known: this can be solved by printing a mathematically defined T-splines reference surface in three dimensions (3D) and modeling the artefacts induced by the 3D printing. Once scanned under different configurations, it is possible to assess the goodness of fit of the approximation for a noisy and potentially gappy point cloud and compare it with the traditional but less flexible NURBS. The advantages of T-splines local refinement open the door for further applications within a geodetic context such as rigorous statistical testing of deformation. Two different scans from a slightly deformed object were approximated; we found that more than 40% of the computational time could be saved without affecting the goodness of fit of the surface approximation by using the same mesh for the two epochs.

scholarly journals Using Least-Squares Residuals to Assess the Stochasticity of Measurements—Example: Terrestrial Laser Scanner and Surface Modeling

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Gaël Kermarrec ◽  
Niklas Schild ◽  
Jan Hartmann
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Statistical Testing ◽  
Normal Vector ◽  
Engineering Structures ◽  
3D Point Clouds ◽  
Least Squares Adjustment ◽  
Correlation Parameters

Terrestrial laser scanners (TLS) capture a large number of 3D points rapidly, with high precision and spatial resolution. These scanners are used for applications as diverse as modeling architectural or engineering structures, but also high-resolution mapping of terrain. The noise of the observations cannot be assumed to be strictly corresponding to white noise: besides being heteroscedastic, correlations between observations are likely to appear due to the high scanning rate. Unfortunately, if the variance can sometimes be modeled based on physical or empirical considerations, the latter are more often neglected. Trustworthy knowledge is, however, mandatory to avoid the overestimation of the precision of the point cloud and, potentially, the non-detection of deformation between scans recorded at different epochs using statistical testing strategies. The TLS point clouds can be approximated with parametric surfaces, such as planes, using the Gauss–Helmert model, or the newly introduced T-splines surfaces. In both cases, the goal is to minimize the squared distance between the observations and the approximated surfaces in order to estimate parameters, such as normal vector or control points. In this contribution, we will show how the residuals of the surface approximation can be used to derive the correlation structure of the noise of the observations. We will estimate the correlation parameters using the Whittle maximum likelihood and use comparable simulations and real data to validate our methodology. Using the least-squares adjustment as a “filter of the geometry” paves the way for the determination of a correlation model for many sensors recording 3D point clouds.

scholarly journals Efficient Reactive Obstacle Avoidance Using Spirals for Escape

Drones ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Fábio Azevedo ◽  
Jaime S. Cardoso ◽  
André Ferreira ◽  
Tiago Fernandes ◽  
Miguel Moreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Mobile Robotics ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Depth Camera ◽  
Main Task ◽  
Robust Method ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Correct Execution ◽  
Low Altitude ◽  
High Degree

The usage of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) has increased in recent years and new application scenarios have emerged. Some of them involve tasks that require a high degree of autonomy, leading to increasingly complex systems. In order for a robot to be autonomous, it requires appropriate perception sensors that interpret the environment and enable the correct execution of the main task of mobile robotics: navigation. In the case of UAVs, flying at low altitude greatly increases the probability of encountering obstacles, so they need a fast, simple, and robust method of collision avoidance. This work covers the problem of navigation in unknown scenarios by implementing a simple, yet robust, environment-reactive approach. The implementation is done with both CPU and GPU map representations to allow wider coverage of possible applications. This method searches for obstacles that cross a cylindrical safety volume, and selects an escape point from a spiral for avoiding the obstacle. The algorithm is able to successfully navigate in complex scenarios, using both a high and low-power computer, typically found aboard UAVs, relying only on a depth camera with a limited FOV and range. Depending on the configuration, the algorithm can process point clouds at nearly 40 Hz in Jetson Nano, while checking for threats at 10 kHz. Some preliminary tests were conducted with real-world scenarios, showing both the advantages and limitations of CPU and GPU-based methodologies.

scholarly journals LiDAR-Based Glass Detection for Improved Occupancy Grid Mapping

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 2263
Author(s):  
Haileleol Tibebu ◽  
Jamie Roche ◽  
Varuna De Silva ◽  
Ahmet Kondoz
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Light Detection And Ranging ◽  
Test Results ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Occupancy Grid ◽  
Laser Scanners ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Occupancy Grid Mapping ◽  
Cartesian Coordinate

Creating an accurate awareness of the environment using laser scanners is a major challenge in robotics and auto industries. LiDAR (light detection and ranging) is a powerful laser scanner that provides a detailed map of the environment. However, efficient and accurate mapping of the environment is yet to be obtained, as most modern environments contain glass, which is invisible to LiDAR. In this paper, a method to effectively detect and localise glass using LiDAR sensors is proposed. This new approach is based on the variation of range measurements between neighbouring point clouds, using a two-step filter. The first filter examines the change in the standard deviation of neighbouring clouds. The second filter uses a change in distance and intensity between neighbouring pules to refine the results from the first filter and estimate the glass profile width before updating the cartesian coordinate and range measurement by the instrument. Test results demonstrate the detection and localisation of glass and the elimination of errors caused by glass in occupancy grid maps. This novel method detects frameless glass from a long range and does not depend on intensity peak with an accuracy of 96.2%.

scholarly journals Towards footwear manufacturing 4.0: shoe sole robotic grasping in assembling operations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo Oliver ◽  
Pablo Gil ◽  
Jose F. Gomez ◽  
Fernando Torres
Keyword(s):  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Contour Extraction ◽  
Shoe Industry ◽  
Simulated Environment ◽  
Dense Point ◽  
Different Shapes

AbstractIn this paper, we present a robotic workcell for task automation in footwear manufacturing such as sole digitization, glue dispensing, and sole manipulation from different places within the factory plant. We aim to make progress towards shoe industry 4.0. To achieve it, we have implemented a novel sole grasping method, compatible with soles of different shapes, sizes, and materials, by exploiting the particular characteristics of these objects. Our proposal is able to work well with low density point clouds from a single RGBD camera and also with dense point clouds obtained from a laser scanner digitizer. The method computes antipodal grasping points from visual data in both cases and it does not require a previous recognition of sole. It relies on sole contour extraction using concave hulls and measuring the curvature on contour areas. Our method was tested both in a simulated environment and in real conditions of manufacturing at INESCOP facilities, processing 20 soles with different sizes and characteristics. Grasps were performed in two different configurations, obtaining an average score of 97.5% of successful real grasps for soles without heel made with materials of low or medium flexibility. In both cases, the grasping method was tested without carrying out tactile control throughout the task.

scholarly journals Comparison of Depth Camera and Terrestrial Laser Scanner in Monitoring Structural Deflections

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 201
Author(s):  
Michael Bekele Maru ◽  
Donghwan Lee ◽  
Kassahun Demissie Tola ◽  
Seunghee Park
Keyword(s):  
Optical Sensors ◽  
Point Cloud ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Depth Camera ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanner ◽  
Cloud Data ◽  
3D Point Clouds ◽  
3D Information

Modeling a structure in the virtual world using three-dimensional (3D) information enhances our understanding, while also aiding in the visualization, of how a structure reacts to any disturbance. Generally, 3D point clouds are used for determining structural behavioral changes. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is one of the crucial ways by which a 3D point cloud dataset can be generated. Additionally, 3D cameras are commonly used to develop a point cloud containing many points on the external surface of an object around it. The main objective of this study was to compare the performance of optical sensors, namely a depth camera (DC) and terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) in estimating structural deflection. We also utilized bilateral filtering techniques, which are commonly used in image processing, on the point cloud data for enhancing their accuracy and increasing the application prospects of these sensors in structure health monitoring. The results from these sensors were validated by comparing them with the outputs from a linear variable differential transformer sensor, which was mounted on the beam during an indoor experiment. The results showed that the datasets obtained from both the sensors were acceptable for nominal deflections of 3 mm and above because the error range was less than ±10%. However, the result obtained from the TLS were better than those obtained from the DC.

scholarly journals Segmentation and Multi-Scale Convolutional Neural Network-Based Classification of Airborne Laser Scanner Data

Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 3347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhishuang Yang ◽  
Bo Tan ◽  
Huikun Pei ◽  
Wanshou Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Convolutional Neural Network ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Region Growing ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Classification Method ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Airborne Laser

The classification of point clouds is a basic task in airborne laser scanning (ALS) point cloud processing. It is quite a challenge when facing complex observed scenes and irregular point distributions. In order to reduce the computational burden of the point-based classification method and improve the classification accuracy, we present a segmentation and multi-scale convolutional neural network-based classification method. Firstly, a three-step region-growing segmentation method was proposed to reduce both under-segmentation and over-segmentation. Then, a feature image generation method was used to transform the 3D neighborhood features of a point into a 2D image. Finally, feature images were treated as the input of a multi-scale convolutional neural network for training and testing tasks. In order to obtain performance comparisons with existing approaches, we evaluated our framework using the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Working Groups II/4 (ISPRS WG II/4) 3D labeling benchmark tests. The experiment result, which achieved 84.9% overall accuracy and 69.2% of average F1 scores, has a satisfactory performance over all participating approaches analyzed.

scholarly journals Estimating tree stem diameters and volume from smartphone photogrammetric point clouds

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Immacolata Marzulli ◽  
Pasi Raumonen ◽  
Roberto Greco ◽  
Manuela Persia ◽  
Patrizia Tartarino
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Forest Plot ◽  
3D Point Clouds ◽  
Dense Point ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Scale Point

Abstract Methods for the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of forest trees have been suggested for data from active and passive sensors. Laser scanner technologies have become popular in the last few years, despite their high costs. Since the improvements in photogrammetric algorithms (e.g. structure from motion—SfM), photographs have become a new low-cost source of 3D point clouds. In this study, we use images captured by a smartphone camera to calculate dense point clouds of a forest plot using SfM. Eighteen point clouds were produced by changing the densification parameters (Image scale, Point density, Minimum number of matches) in order to investigate their influence on the quality of the point clouds produced. In order to estimate diameter at breast height (d.b.h.) and stem volumes, we developed an automatic method that extracts the stems from the point cloud and then models them with cylinders. The results show that Image scale is the most influential parameter in terms of identifying and extracting trees from the point clouds. The best performance with cylinder modelling from point clouds compared to field data had an RMSE of 1.9 cm and 0.094 m3, for d.b.h. and volume, respectively. Thus, for forest management and planning purposes, it is possible to use our photogrammetric and modelling methods to measure d.b.h., stem volume and possibly other forest inventory metrics, rapidly and without felling trees. The proposed methodology significantly reduces working time in the field, using ‘non-professional’ instruments and automating estimates of dendrometric parameters.

scholarly journals VALIDATION OF A UAV-DERIVED POINT CLOUD BY SEMANTIC CLASSIFICATION AND COMPARISON WITH TLS DATA

2021 ◽  
Vol XLIII-B2-2021 ◽  
pp. 83-90
Author(s):  
M. Franzini ◽  
V. Casella ◽  
P. Marchese ◽  
M. Marini ◽  
G. Della Porta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Point Cloud ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Gradual Transition ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Uniform Density ◽  
Mutual Distance ◽  
Semantic Classification ◽  
Cost Efficient

Abstract. Recent years showed a gradual transition from terrestrial to aerial survey thanks to the development of UAV and sensors for it. Many sectors benefited by this change among which geological one; drones are flexible, cost-efficient and can support outcrops surveying in many difficult situations such as inaccessible steep and high rock faces. The experiences acquired in terrestrial survey, with total stations, GNSS or terrestrial laser scanner (TLS), are not yet completely transferred to UAV acquisition. Hence, quality comparisons are still needed. The present paper is framed in this perspective aiming to evaluate the quality of the point clouds generated by an UAV in a geological context; data analysis was conducted comparing the UAV product with the homologous acquired with a TLS system. Exploiting modern semantic classification, based on eigenfeatures and support vector machine (SVM), the two point clouds were compared in terms of density and mutual distance. The UAV survey proves its usefulness in this situation with a uniform density distribution in the whole area and producing a point cloud with a quality comparable with the more traditional TLS systems.

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