Data capture system

1. A data capture system, comprising:

a first capture node including:

a first set of image sensors, and

a first computing device connected with the first set of image sensors and configured to:

control the first set of image sensors to capture respective images of an object within a capture volume;

generate a first point cloud based on the images; and

transmit the first point cloud to a data capture server; and

a second capture node including:

a second set of image sensors, and

a second computing device connected with the second set of image sensors and configured to:

simultaneously with control of the first set of image sensors by the first computing device, control the second set of image sensors to capture respective images of the object;

generate a second point cloud based on the images; and

transmit the second point cloud to the data capture server for combination with the first point cloud and dimensioning of the object.

2. The data capture system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first housing supporting the first set of image sensors and the first computing device; and

a second housing supporting the second set of image sensors and the second computing device.

3. The data capture system of claim 2 , wherein the first and second housings are substantially cylindrical.

4. The data capture system of claim 1 , wherein the first capture node is disposed at a first position adjacent to the capture volume, and wherein the second capture node is disposed at a second position adjacent to the capture volume.

5. The data capture system of claim 1 , wherein the first capture node further comprises:

a projector controllable by the first computing device to project a structured light pattern onto the object simultaneously with control of the first set of image sensors.

6. The data capture system of claim 2 , wherein the first capture node further comprises:

an indicator light supported by the first housing, the indicator light controllable by the first computing device to generate a notification.

7. The data capture system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a first conduit extending from the first housing to carry cooling fluid from a cooling fluid source.

8. The data capture system of claim 7 , wherein the first conduit carries communication lines connected to the first computing device.

9. The data capture system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third capture node including:

a third set of image sensors, and

a third computing device connected with the third set of image sensors and configured to:

control the third set of image sensors to capture respective images of the object;

generate a third point cloud based on the images; and

transmit the third point cloud to the data capture server.

10. A method of data capture, comprising:

determining whether to perform a calibration check for a set of image sensors;

when the determination is affirmative, controlling a projector to illuminate a capture volume with virtual fiducial markers;

controlling each of a set of image sensors, simultaneously with the illumination, to capture respective images of the capture volume; and

determining whether detected positions of the virtual fiducial markers based on the images match expected positions of the virtual fiducial markers;

validating a calibration of the set of image sensors when the determination is affirmative;

controlling the projector to illuminate the capture volume with further fiducial markers;

controlling the image sensors to capture a set of images of the capture volume;

detecting the further fiducial markers in the images;

substituting the further fiducial markers in the images with reference markers to generate modified images; and

generating a point cloud based on the modified images.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining whether to perform the calibration check includes determining whether a predefined interval has elapsed.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining whether the detected positions match the expected positions includes, for each detected position:

determining a distance between the detected position and the expected position; and

determining whether the distance exceeds a validation threshold.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

selecting a noise reduction operation; and

applying the noise reduction operation to the point cloud.

14. A computing device, comprising:

a memory storing calibration data defining relative positions of a set of image sensors; and

a processor configured to:

determine whether to perform a calibration check for a set of image sensors;

when the determination is affirmative, control a projector to illuminate a capture volume with virtual fiducial markers;

control each of a set of image sensors, simultaneously with the illumination, to capture respective images of the capture volume; and

determine whether detected positions of the virtual fiducial markers based on the images match expected positions of the virtual fiducial markers;

validate a calibration of the set of image sensors when the determination is affirmative;

control the projector to illuminate the capture volume with further fiducial markers;

control the image sensors to capture a set of images of the capture volume;

detect the further fiducial markers in the images;

substitute the further fiducial markers in the images with reference markers to generate modified images; and

generate a point cloud based on the modified images.

15. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured, in order to determine whether to perform the calibration check, to determine whether a predefined interval has elapsed.

16. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured, in order to determine whether the detected positions match the expected positions, for each detected position, to:

determine a distance between the detected position and the expected position; and

determine whether the distance exceeds a validation threshold.

17. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

select a noise reduction operation; and

apply the noise reduction operation to the point cloud.