3D panorama stereo visual perception centering on the observers

For existing three-dimensional (3D) laser scanners, acquiring geometry and color information of the objects simultaneously is difficult. Moreover, the current techniques cannot store, modify, and model the point clouds efficiently. In this work, we have developed a novel sensor system, which is called active stereo omni-directional vision sensor (ASODVS), to address those problems. ASODVS is an integrated system composed of a single-view omni-directional vision sensor and a mobile planar green laser generator platform. Driven by a stepper motor, the laser platform can move vertically along the axis of the ASODVS. During the scanning of the laser generators, the panoramic images of the environment are captured and the characteristics and space location information of the laser points are calculated accordingly. Based on the image information of the laser points, the 3D space can be reconstructed. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed ASODVS system can measure and reconstruct the 3D space in real-time and with high quality. (paper)