This method helps to reduce challenges around shape and distances of reflective objects. The method combines the information captured from two established techniques - Phase Measuring Deflectometry (PMD) and Shape from Polarisation (SfP).
Leveraging the geometrical information from deflectometry with polarisation cues, the surface shape and normal field of the specular object can be accurately reconstructed—without the need for prior knowledge about the object, complex setups, or specific assumptions about the imaging model. This makes 3D imaging of specular objects both highly accurate and widely applicable.
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Bridging the Gap Between Optical 3D Metrology and Computer Vision
“We developed a mathematically rigorous and creative approach to combine these two sets of information,” said Jiazhang Wang, postdoctoral associate in Willomitzer’s lab, first author and lead researcher of the study. “This results in a novel measurement technique that accurately determines the object’s shape and surface normals without the typical ambiguities, ensuring both high accuracy and wide applicability. In essence, our new method is bridging the current technology gap between optical 3D imaging metrology and computer vision.”
Real-Time 3D Imaging and High-Speed Measurements
Wang also says that the new method avoids any issues around motion artifacts. “By integrating novel hardware designs with advanced reconstruction algorithms, our method can now extract all required information from one single camera image. This can enable real-time, hand-guided measurements and high-speed 3D imaging of dynamic scenes,” he says.
