Optimizing PTZ camera calibration from two images

In this paper, we address the problem of calibrating an active pan–tilt–zoom (PTZ) camera. In this regard, we make three main contributions: first, for the general camera rotation, we provide a novel solution that yields four independent constraints from only two images, by directly decomposing the infinite homography using a series of Givens rotations. Second, for a camera varying its focal length, we present a solution for the degenerate cases of pure pan and pure tilt that occur very frequently in practical applications of PTZ cameras. Third, we derive a new optimized error function for pure rotation or pan–tilt rotation, which plays a similar role as the epipolar constraint in a freely moving camera, in terms of characterizing the reprojection error of point correspondences. Our solutions and analysis are thoroughly validated and tested on both synthetic and real data, whereby the new geometric error function is shown to outperform existing methods in terms of accuracy and noise resilience.     

一种改进的相机标定方法

摄像机标定与图像畸变修正是摄影测量、视觉检测、计算机视觉等领域的重点研究课题之一,在测绘、工业控制、导航、军事等领域得到了极大的应用。研究了摄像机模型,摄像机标定等内容。对DLT的标定方法进行了改进,在摄像机模型中全面考虑了镜头的畸变,利用图像中心附近点畸变量较小的性质,提出一种摄像机内外部参数和像差修正参数分离的标定方法。并举例说明了基于同一物体的两幅图画三维重构的具体实验步骤和方法,分析了影响精度的因素。     

Robust refinement methods for camera calibration and 3D reconstruction from multiple images

This paper proposes robust refinement methods to improve the popular patch multi-view 3D reconstruction algorithm by Furukawa and Ponce (2008). Specifically, a new method is proposed to improve the robustness by removing outliers based on a filtering approach. In addition, this work also proposes a method to divide the 3D points in to several buckets for applying the sparse bundle adjustment algorithm (SBA) individually, removing the outliers and finally merging them. The residuals are used to filter potential outliers to reduce the re-projection error used as the performance evaluation of refinement. In our experiments, the original mean re-projection error is about 47.6. After applying the proposed methods, the mean error is reduced to 2.13.     

On the sensitivity analysis of camera calibration from images of spheres

This paper presents a novel sensitivity analysis of camera calibration from images of spheres. We improve the accuracy of a conic matrix and hence the accuracy of calibration results by eliminating the ambiguity of the conic orientation that arises from the nature of a circular-ellipse. In addition, relationships between the difference in length of the long and short axes of a conic and other parameters of the conic and the camera are investigated and demonstrated through parametric study and experimental analysis. By utilizing these relationships, we establish novel guidelines that can be followed to obtain better calibration results.     

稳定精确的摄像机标定方法

在Tsai两步法的基础上提出了一种更加稳定精确的摄像机标定方法。由于Tsai两步法中只考虑了摄像机镜头的径向畸变因素,所以为了提高摄像机的标定精度,在其基础上考虑了镜头的切向畸变情况。在求解摄像机参数的过程中,第一步同Tsai两步法采用最小二乘法求解线性方程得到外部参数,再利用最小二乘法求解关于畸变参数K1,K2,K3,K4的线性方程组,最终求得摄像机的内外所有参数。通过实验对该方法进行了验证。     

A robust method to recognize critical configuration for camera calibration

When space points and camera optical center lie on a twisted cubic, no matter how many pairs there are used from the space points to their image points, camera parameters cannot be determined uniquely. This configuration is critical for camera calibration. We set up invariant relationship between six space points and their image points for the critical configuration. Then based on the relationship, an algorithm to recognize the critical configuration of at least six pairs of space and image points is proposed by using a constructed criterion function, where no any explicit computation on camera projective matrix or optical center is needed. Experiments show the efficiency of the proposed method.     

A determination method of initial camera parameters for coplanar calibration

Most coplanar calibration algorithms determine the initial camera parameters from a single image under the assumption that the principal point is known in advance. However, the camera orientations, the shifted principal point and the noise corrupted on images have an influence on the estimated initial camera parameters under the above assumption. This paper proposes a useful method to determine the initial camera parameters for coplanar calibration. The proposed method can determine the initial camera parameters from the single image, wherein the principal point is considered as a parameter. In our experiments, both synthetic and real images are used. The experimental results show that the proposed method provides both stable initial camera parameters and noise robustness for changes of camera orientations, noise levels and shifts of principal point.     

一种基于MATLAB的摄象机标定方法的实现

使用MATLAB实现了一种简便的摄象机参数的标定方法。先由四个标定点的坐标计算出透视投影矩阵，从而计算出标定模板上其它节点的图象坐标，之后进行内部参数和外部参数的计算。此方法具有易于实施、速度较快、精度较高等特点，是一种简便实用的方法。     

一种新的基于散焦图像的摄像机标定方法

提出一种新的用于散焦求深度的摄像机内参数标定算法。该算法依靠改变摄像机镜头光圈指数获取同一场景的任意两幅散焦程度不同的图像,提取两幅图像间模糊程度差异信息,结合分析透镜成像几何标定出摄像机的相应内参数。此算法解除了2006年由Park所提出的标定方法中必须有一幅聚焦图像的限制,并且无须对图像进行复杂的放大率标准化处理。模拟实验与真实实验均验证了算法的有效性和精确性。     

一种基于非量测畸变校正的摄像机标定方法

设计一种基于非量测畸变校正的摄像机标定方法.该方法利用单参数除式模型校正镜头畸变,根据直线透视投影保留同素性,通过拉凡格氏法（LM）优化标定出畸变模型系数和摄像机主点坐标,然后校正成像点,使其满足针孔模型映射关系.根据内参数的两个基本方程,线性求解剩余参数.实验表明,该方法在非量测标定过程具有较好的鲁棒性,且对比张正友标定方法,可在单幅标靶图像下进行标定,避免了模型内外参数耦合在一起,提高了标定效率.     

一种基于TOF相机与CCD相机的联合标定算法研究

针对基于Time-of-Flight(TOF)相机的彩色目标三维重建需标定CCD相机与TOF相机联合系统的几何参数,在研究现有的基于彩色图像和TOF深度图像标定算法的基础上,提出了一种基于平面棋盘模板的标定方法。拍摄了固定在平面标定模板上的彩色棋盘图案在不同角度下的彩色图像和振幅图像,改进了Harris角点提取,根据棋盘格上角点与虚拟像点的共轭关系,建立了相机标定系统模型,利用Levenberg-Marquardt算法求解,进行了标定实验。获取了TOF与CCD相机内参数,并利用像平面之间的位姿关系估计两相机坐标系的相对姿态,最后进行联合优化,获取了相机之间的旋转矩阵与平移向量。实验结果表明,提出的算法优化了求解过程,提高了标定效率,能够获得较高的精度。     

A low-cost calibration method for automated optical mensuration using a video camera

Automated optical mensuration gauges the acquired image of the inspected unit while assessing its actual size and shape. The mensuration requires the following preparations: (1) alignment of the video camera perpendicularly to the inspection table, and (2) calibration of the scale ratios of image acquisition, notably, the stretching ratio caused by signal conversion and the magnification ratio of optical coupling. This paper presents the unique two-stage calibration method. The first stage applies the parallelogram conservation property, a property very sensitive to misorientation, to test against the potential misalignment. Once detected, we adjust the misalignment towards orthogonal alignment using image patterns of the calibration template. Then, the second stage determines the scale ratios. The proposed calibration method is suitable for on-site applications, and its implementation cost is low. Sensitivity analysis and experimental results are reported.     

An efficient camera calibration method for vision-based head tracking

The aim of this study is to develop and evaluate an efficient camera calibration method for vision-based head tracking. Tracking head movements is important in the design of an eye-controlled human/computer interface. A vision-based head tracking system is proposed to allow the user's head movements in the design of the eye-controlled human/computer interface. We propose an efficient camera calibration method to track the three-dimensional position and orientation of the user's head accurately. We also evaluate the performance of the proposed method and the influence of the configuration of calibration points on the performance. The experimental error analysis results showed that the proposed method can provide more accurate and stable pose (i.e. position and orientation) of the camera than the direct linear transformation method which has been used in camera calibration. The results for this study can be applied to the tracking of head movements related to the eye-controlled human/computer interface and the virtual reality technology.     

用于视频中车速自动检测的摄像机自动标定方法

针对目前基于视频的车辆测速方法均需通过手工标定而造成的低效和可操作性差的问题,提出了一种对典型配置的道路监控摄像机的焦距、俯仰角、离地距离等重要参数进行自动标定的方法。首选利用自然场景中两组正交平行线在视频图像中形成的消失点之间的内在关系对摄像机的焦距和俯仰角实施精确标定;在此基础上利用视频中目标车辆群体的平均宽度对摄像机与地面之间距离进行自动标定。实验表明,该算法具有参数测量精度高和可靠性好等优点,可作为现有道路视频监控设备实施车辆速度、类别、流量等数据的自动采集、分析和监控,以及电子违章抓拍设备的有效自动标定手段。     

A flexible new technique for camera calibration

We propose a flexible technique to easily calibrate a camera. It only requires the camera to observe a planar pattern shown at a few (at least two) different orientations. Either the camera or the planar pattern can be freely moved. The motion need not be known. Radial lens distortion is modeled. The proposed procedure consists of a closed-form solution, followed by a nonlinear refinement based on the maximum likelihood criterion. Both computer simulation and real data have been used to test the proposed technique and very good results have been obtained. Compared with classical techniques which use expensive equipment such as two or three orthogonal planes, the proposed technique is easy to use and flexible. It advances 3D computer vision one more step from laboratory environments to real world use.     

一种全局指数收敛的摄像机内参数观测器

针对摄像机标定问题,本文从控制理论角度出发设计了一种具有指数收敛特性的摄像机内参数观测器.当摄像机随移动机器人等运动平台一起旋转时,该观测器使用其运动信息和实时拍摄得到的特征点图像信息,可以实现对摄像机内参数的在线估计.具体而言,论文分析了云台摄像机的运动约束,建立了特征点图像坐标变化的运动学模型,随后基于4个或4个以上特征点（其中任意3点不共线）,构造了一种内参数非线性观测器,并通过理论分析证明了其状态估计指数收敛于摄像机的相应内参数,仿真结果验证了这种非线性观测器的良好特性.     

一种使用校正模板的非线性摄像机标定方法

基于图像点满足的特定直线方程以及相邻图像点之间距离相等的性质,对标定模板图像进行校正,并通过改进的张正友标定法,提出了一种新的使用校正模板的非线性摄像机标定方法。与现存的方法进行比较发现,该方法能够实现较高精度的摄像机标定,鲁棒性比较强,且能够大大地降低算法的复杂度。     

Cost-effective reflectance calibration method for small UAV images

ABSTRACT

We introduce a cost-effective reflectance calibration method for small unmanned aerial vehicle (sUAV) images using ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) greyscale reference panels. The goal is to test if such light-weight and low-cost panels can provide sufficient calibration accuracy to support UAV survey projects. The universal calibration equations to convert red-green-blue (RGB) digital number (DN) values of UAV images to surface reflectance values were constructed based on the relationship between RGB values measured by a colour digitizer and surface reflectance values measured by a spectrometer. We compared the calibration results for UAV ortho-mosaic images acquired at three different illumination conditions in late autumn to the results derived from high-cost commercial panels. The comparison showed high degree of agreement between our method using the EVA panels with the traditional methods using the commercial panels. The Mann–Whitney U test verified our method was statistically more significant at all illumination conditions tests. In addition, the calibration results applied for two different sensors and three different flight altitudes acquired in early summer were satisfactory. This method is transferable to various illumination conditions and flight altitudes as long as the effects of shades and the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) are minimal. We expect our research could expedite sUAV image calibration by lowering its cost and levelling its availability.     

A novel method for camera external parameters online calibration using dotted road line

On board camera is the most important information source for driver assistant application which is based on computer vision. One problem for on board camera is that the external parameters are easy to be changed when moving on the road. Traditional method either calibrates external parameters offline or calibrates external parameters semi-online, which both need human intervention. By observation, it is found that corner connection of dotted road lane can form two groups of parallel lines. Using this geometric characteristics and through theoretical derivation, a novel online camera external parameter calibration method is proposed which focus on the situation when vehicle is moving. The pro of this method is that it maintains relatively high calculation accuracy and more important, it does not require any human intervention in whole calibration process. Experimental and comparison results show that this method is simple and have accurate results which fully meet the requirements of practical application.