Method and system for combining multiple scans into a single data set
An improved method can be obtained for combining multiple data sets of a single subject to form a single representation of the subject, such as an environment. The method uses a small set of alignment points and scanning the environment from a first position, repositioning the scanning system to take a scan of the same environment from a second position, and labeling the same alignment points to the extent they are visible from the second location. The alignment points may be static points of interest in the environment or they may be placed in the environment by the user to denote the location of common reference points.
1 . A method comprising:
creating a first scan of an environment by at least scanning the environment from a first location using a scanning system;
selecting a set of alignment points, wherein each of the set of alignment points is included in the first scan;
obtaining a modified set of alignment points, wherein at least one alignment point is different between the set of alignment points and the modified set of alignment points;
creating a second scan of the environment by at least scanning the environment from a second location using the scanning system, wherein each of the modified set of alignment points is included in the second scan; and
combining, by the scanning system and using the modified set of alignment points, the first scan and the second scan to form a single representation of the environment.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the set of alignment points comprises obtaining, by the scanning system, a selection of the set of alignment points from static elements in the environment.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the set of alignment points comprises identifying, by the scanning system, fiducial markers added to the environment.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of alignment points comprises at least four alignment points and at least three alignment points are visible from each of the first scan and the second scan.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the set of alignment points comprises receiving, by the scanning system and from a mobile device, a selection of the set of alignment points.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the set of alignment points comprises identifying, by the scanning system and using image recognition software, the set of alignment points included in the first scan.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein combining the first scan and the second scan comprises applying a transformation to one or more of the first scan and the second scan to align each of the modified set of alignment points included in the first scan and the second scan within the single representation.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein applying the transformation comprises iteratively calculating the transformation until each of the modified set of alignment points within the first scan and the second scan are aligned within a preselected threshold.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the modified set of alignment points comprises adding an alignment point to the set of alignment points to obtain the modified set of alignment points.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the modified set of alignment points comprises deleting an alignment point from the set of alignment points to obtain the modified set of alignment points.
11 . A scanning system comprising:
a visual capture device configured to create a first scan of an environment by at least scanning the environment from a first location;
a processing unit configured to execute instructions that cause the processing unit to:
select a set of alignment points, wherein each of the set of alignment points is included the first scan; and
obtain a modified set of alignment points, wherein at least one alignment point is different between the set of alignment points and the modified set of alignment points,
wherein the visual capture device is further configured to create a second scan of the environment by at least scanning the environment from a second location, wherein each of the modified set of alignment points is included in the second scan, and
wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to combine, using the modified set of alignment points, the first scan and the second scan to form a single representation of the environment.
12 . The scanning system of claim 11 , wherein, to select the set of alignment points, the instructions further cause the processing unit to obtain a selection of the set of alignment points from static elements in the environment.
13 . The scanning system of claim 11 , wherein, to select the set of alignment points, the instructions further cause the processing unit to identify fiducial markers added to the environment.
14 . The scanning system of claim 11 , wherein the set of alignment points comprises at least four alignment points and at least three alignment points are visible from each of the first scan and the second scan.
15 . The scanning system of claim 11 , wherein, to select the set of alignment points, the instructions further cause the processing unit to receive, from a mobile device, a selection of the set of alignment points.
16 . The scanning system of claim 11 , wherein to select the set of alignment points, the instructions further cause the processing unit to identify, using image recognition software, the set of alignment points included in the first scan.
17 . The scanning system of claim 11 , wherein, to combine the first scan and the second scan, the instructions further cause the processing unit to apply a transformation to one or more of the first scan and the second scan to align each of the modified set of alignment points included in the first scan and the second scan within the single representation.
18 . The scanning system of claim 11 , wherein, to obtain the modified set of alignment points, the instructions further cause the processing unit to add an alignment point to the set of alignment points to obtain the modified set of alignment points.
19 . The scanning system of claim 11 , wherein, to obtain the modified set of alignment points, the instructions further cause the processing unit to delete an alignment point from the set of alignment points to obtain the modified set of alignment points.
20 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processing unit, cause the processing unit to:
obtain a first scan of an environment created by a visual capture device by at least scanning the environment from a first location;
select a set of alignment points, wherein each of the set of alignment points is included the first scan; and
obtain a modified set of alignment points, wherein at least one alignment point is different between the set of alignment points and the modified set of alignment points,
obtain a second scan of the environment created by the visual capture device by at least scanning the environment from a second location, wherein each of the modified set of alignment points is included in the second scan; and
combine, using the modified set of alignment points, the first scan and the second scan to form a single representation of the environment.