Creating a Stereo Camera - Essay Example

BUILDING A STEREO CAMERA al Affiliation) Introduction Photography s back in history to the 19th century when Eadweard Muybridge first used his twelve cameras to capture images of a horse. He them found a way through zoopraxiscope and was able to project the images from his cameras. The main issue that was encountered was when there was parallax, both vertical and horizontal causing much on the strain to the person taking the pictures (Buckingham, 2004). Parallax is caused with the closeness of convergence when the image gets to the camera. All these effects can be corrected when parallel cameras are used since the cameras do not cause parallax. Stereo vision came about also to solve the problems by generating 3D images of the original objects. A stereo vision can be yield from a stereo camera where the user of the stereo camera is able to compare different images obtained from the same scene using the camera (Buckingham, 2004). Different methods have been used to develop stereo cameras including the estimation of the perspective projection matrix which involves developing of equations for estimation. Original aim The original aim of the development of the project is to achieve a 3D effect on images through the use of an ordinary camera. Another effect would be merging the images that are multi viewed into a finer one. The effect would involve processing the images through the use of volumetric reconstruction procedures (Buckingham, 2004). The development is to bring the user of the camera to get an image which is stereoscopic through the ability of one being able to compare two or more views from the same scene where the images are taken. The 3D effect is attained when the person taking the image is able to distinguish the images using the eye or separation using a lenticular lens. The images that are maintained are then to be registered in 3D mesh model. Objectives Making of two images to be used in a stereo camera is the main objective of the project on the stereo camera. The process will also involve calibrating the stereo camera system using two standing cameras. The project will also do with getting the estimations, both external and internal parameters of the camera. The estimated parameters are also to be used in the making the camera produce the 3D effect (Buckingham, 2004). Having a sliding mounting device between two marked points can be done to minimize the effect of moving the camera to take the second picture after taking the first picture. This brings the problem of not being able to take moving objects. The development of the stereo camera will ensure minimizing this effect. It brings also being careful with the alignment when taking pictures without a sliding device. This will keep the shoots parallel to each other. There is also need to evaluate the efficiency of the stereo camera once one has taken pictures (Buckingham, 2004). Evaluating accuracy of the system using the structured light depth sensor will also constitute the development of the camera. The calibration of the 3D cameras are also to be known during the construction Achievements made towards the objectives The process that were achieved in the objectives involves processing the images made from the photography using the volumetric reconstruction technique. The merging of the multi-viewed images also been achieved with them being registered automatically to a common coordinate system and then integrated into the 3D mesh model (Buckingham, 2004). There has been a proposed 3D reconstruction method of the small scale scenes improved by the new image acquisition method. This has been through the use of stereovision system in the acquiring the images so as to obtain several shots of the same object. There has also been the development of scale invariant transform which is associated in transforming an image into large collection of the local feature vectors which are invariant to image scaling, rotation and translation and partially invariant to the 3D projection. There has also been reduction of image error through the use estimating the perspective projection matrix. This reduces the error between the actual image points and projection of the world points onto the image plain leading to production of a clear image (Buckingham, 2004). Encountered challenges and issues The main issue that comes about in the calibrations in the construction of the cameras is that in most situations, the source of the image is unknown and leads the assumption that the parameters of the cameras also are unknown (Buckingham, 2004). There is also conclusion from the situation that the internal parameters of the cameras are determined and can be made from the images themselves. Classical calibration methods used which involves the use of calibration pattern of a known size inside the view of the camera. The challenge with the method is the impossibility to calibrate the camera the time it is involved in the taking of the images. The changes that are made and occur in the camera’s setting are not easily possible without the interruption of the camera’s task (Buckingham, 2004). The changes that are made on the focal length of the camera, small thermal or mechanical changes are the ones that affect the task of the camera. One of the problems that come in the 3D camera filming is the use of camera with the converged lens rather than the use of that with parallel axis. This will lead to parallax resulting to eye strain. Schedule Period Task 29-Sep-14 / 17-Oct-14 Submit the Terms of Reference (ToR) from the project. 20-Oct-14 / 14-Nov-14 Build the stereo camera system using a two standing cameras and connect it with computer (obj.1) by program in MATLAB. 3-Nov-14 / 21-Nov-14 Work on the Literature Review and submit it (Fri 21-Nov 23:59 ) 14-Nov-14 / 19-Dec-14 Work in MATLAB to make the program and connect it with a cameras ( opj.3) 1-Dec-14 / 19-Dec-14 Work on Interim Report and submit it by Fri 19-Dec 23:59 16-Jan-15 / 20-Feb-15 Write and finish all the calculations and the evaluation (obj.5-6) 9-Feb-15 / 27-Feb-15 Submit Report Structure. 27-Mar-15 Project Report and Product Reference Buckingham, A. 2004. Photography. New York: Dorling Kindersley. Read More