Aerial imaging high-accuracy scale calibration

Number: 10776987
Published: 2020-09-15
Filed: 2018-03-05
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: Chapman; Steven M., Patel; Mehul, Popp; Joseph, Kosakura; Steven
CPC: G06T15/08; G06T19/003; G06T7/579; G06V20/13; G06V20/17
Verdict: Low Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Aerial/drone imaging scale calibration hardware technique.

Abstract

The disclosure provides for a system of markers and methods of using the system of markers to provide a precise scene scale reference for captured aerial images. Each of the markers may include one or more pairs of aligned collimated light emitters, where each pair of light emitters is configured to emit two light beams that converge at a known distance from the marker. When two or more markers are used, the system of markers may be aligned in a unique physical orientation to form a shape of known dimensions (e.g., a line, a triangle, or square) that provides an accurate scene scale reference for captured images.

Background

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE(1) The disclosure describes a system of markers and methods of using the system of markers to provide an accurate scene scale reference for captured aerial images.(2) In one example, a method includes: placing and aligning a plurality of markers in a location such that a surface of each of the plurality of markers is illuminated by a pair of intersecting collimated light beams that are emitted by a pair of light emitters of another one of the plurality of markers, where each of the pairs of light beams converge at a known distance from the marker that emits the pair of light beams; after placing and aligning the plurality of markers, capturing an aerial image of the location, where the captured aerial image includes the plurality of placed and aligned markers; and using the known distance and placed and aligned markers in the captured aerial image to create a scale for the image. In some implementations, the plurality of aerial images may be captured using an unmanned aerial vehicle.(3) In particular implementations, the method may further include: after placing and aligning the plurality of markers, capturing a plurality of aerial images of the location, wherein each of the plurality of captured aerial images include the plurality of placed and aligned markers; and generating a three-dimensional model of the location using the plurality of captured images, where objects in the three-dimensional model are scaled using the known distance and pla

Claims

1. A method, comprising: aligning a plurality of physical markers arranged at separate positions from one another in an outdoor location such that a surface of each of the plurality of physical markers is illuminated by a pair of intersecting collimated light beams emitted by a pair of light emitting devices of another one of the plurality of physical markers, wherein each of the pairs of light beams converge at a known distance that is at least 10 meters from the physical marker that emits the pair of light beams; capturing by an aerial vehicle flying over the outdoor location, a plurality of aerial images of the outdoor location, wherein the plurality of captured aerial images are captured at different positions over the outdoor location and include a representation of the plurality of aligned physical markers in the outdoor location; analyzing the plurality of captured aerial images, the known distance of the convergence of the pairs of light beams, and the aligned physical markers to create a scale for the aerial image; and generating a three-dimensional model of the outdoor location using the plurality of captured images, wherein objects in the three-dimensional model are scaled using the known distance of the convergence of pairs of light beams and the aligned physical markers in the plurality of captured images.