IP Library Granted Patent US 11,959,749
Granted Patent B2
US 11,959,749 · App. 14/746,819 · Granted Apr 16, 2024

Mobile mapping system

Inventors: Naser El-Sheimy (Calgary, CA); Amr Al-Hamad (Calgary, CA)
Assignee: Profound Positioning Inc.
G01C21/20G01C11/02G01C11/12G01C11/34G01C21/1654G01C21/1656G01S19/40G01S19/42G01S19/485G06T7/74G06T2207/30184G06T2207/30244G06T2207/30252
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,959,749
App. No.
14/746,819
Granted
Apr 16, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for a mobile mapping system are described. In an embodiment, a method includes capturing a plurality of images of an object point using a mobile computing platform. The method may also include determining an initial set of orientation parameters in response to one or more orientation sensors on the mobile computing platform. Additionally, the method may include calculating a corrected set of orientation parameters by matching object points in the plurality of images. Further, the method may include estimating a three-dimensional ground coordinate associated with the captured images in response to the corrected set of orientation parameters.

Claims (26)

1. A method comprising:

capturing a plurality of images using a camera of a hand-holdable mobile communication platform;

determining an initial set of orientation parameters associated with the plurality of captured images in response to one or more orientation sensors on the hand-holdable mobile communication platform;

initially matching images of the plurality of captured images based on matching object points between respective pairs of first and second matched images;

calculating, using a selected pair of matched images consisting of a first matched image having a first object point and a second matched image having a second object point matched to the first object point, a corrected set of orientation parameters based on the initial set of orientation parameters and application of a non-linear least square estimation algorithm to a cost function, wherein, the cost function is a separation distance between the second object point and an epipolar line of the second matched image, and wherein the epipolar line is expressed as a function of a plurality of points in the second matched image obtained using a projection between the matched images in the selected pair that is a function of orientation parameters, by projecting the first object point to the plurality of points in the second matched image; and

estimating a three-dimensional ground coordinate associated with the captured images in response to the corrected set of orientation parameters.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of orientation parameters comprise External Orientation Parameters (EOPs).

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the EOPs are determined using an onboard Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the EOPs are determined using an onboard accelerometer and magnetometer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of orientation parameters comprise Internal Orientation Parameters (IOPs).

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting and removing blunders in the matched object points.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating the three-dimensional ground coordinate is calculated using a bundle adjustment algorithm.

8. A mobile mapping system, comprising:

a hand-holdable mobile communication platform comprising one or more processors and a memory storing instructions; wherein,

when executed by the one or more processors, the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations:

capturing a plurality of images using a camera onboard the hand-holdable mobile communication platform;

determining an initial set of orientation parameters associated with the plurality of captured images in response to one or more orientation sensors on the hand-holdable mobile communication platform;

initially matching images of the plurality of captured images based on matching object points between respective pairs of first and second matched images;

calculating, using a selected pair of matched images consisting of a first matched image having a first object point and a second matched image having a second object point matched to the first object point, a corrected set of orientation parameters based on the initial set of orientation parameters and application of a non-linear least square estimation algorithm to a cost function, wherein, the cost function is a separation distance between the second object point and an epipolar line of the second matched image, and wherein the epipolar line is expressed as a function of a plurality of points in the second matched image obtained using a projection between the matched images in the selected pair that is a function of orientation parameters, by projecting the first object point to the plurality of points in the second matched image; and

estimating a three-dimensional ground coordinate associated with the captured images in response to the corrected set of orientation parameters.

9. The MMS of claim 8 , wherein the set of orientation parameters comprise External Orientation Parameters (EOPs).

10. The MMS of claim 9 , wherein the EOPs are determined using an onboard Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system.

11. The MMS of claim 9 , wherein the EOPs are determined using an onboard accelerometer and magnetometer.

12. The MMS of claim 8 , wherein the set of orientation parameters comprise Internal Orientation Parameters (IOPs).

13. The MMS of claim 8 , wherein the hand-holdable mobile communication platform is further configured to detect and remove blunders in the matched object points.

14. The MMS of claim 8 , wherein estimating the three-dimensional ground coordinate is calculated using a bundle adjustment algorithm.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2021
From: UTI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
To: PROFOUND POSITIONING INC.
Reel/Frame 056479/0649 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2021
From: EL-SHEIMY, NASER; AL-HAMAD, AMR
To: UTI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Reel/Frame 056526/0294 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2017
From: EL-HAMAD, AMR; EL-SHEIMY, NASER
To: PROFOUND POSITIONING INC
Reel/Frame 042131/0317 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62014984 · Jun 20, 2014
Related Publication 20170227361A1 · Aug 10, 2017