IP Library Granted Patent US 12,646,213
Granted Patent B2
US 12,646,213 · App. 18/771,437 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Techniques for extrinsic sensor calibration using mobile device

Inventors: Jeffrey K. Berry (Clayton, NC); Nolan Graves (Peoria, IL); Maxwell T. Eastepp (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
G06T7/80E02F9/26G06T2200/24G06T2207/20092G06T2207/30204G06T2207/30252
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,646,213
App. No.
18/771,437
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques are described for calibrating a coordinate frame of a remote sensing sensor of a perception system of a machine with respect to a coordinate frame of the machine. An application of a mobile device, such as a smartphone, a tablet computing device, or a laptop, or a web service detects a visual fiducial tag and a feature of the machine in an image by using an optical sensor of a digital camera system. The fiducial tag detection provides the coordinate transformation between the mobile device and a housing of the remote sensing sensor, e.g., radar sensor, lidar sensor, sonar sensor, or camera. Detecting a feature of the machine, e.g., a traction component such as a wheel or track, a brake light, a headlight, a turn signal, or a logo, provided constraints for the transformation between the device and machine.

Claims (39)

1 . A computer-implemented method for calibrating a perception system of a machine, the method comprising:

detecting, using an optical sensor of a digital camera system, a first fiducial tag coupled with a remote sensing sensor, wherein the remote sensing sensor is coupled with a machine frame of the machine;

detecting, using the optical sensor, a feature of the machine;

determining, using the first fiducial tag, a first coordinate transformation between the optical sensor and the remote sensing sensor;

determining, using the feature, a second coordinate transformation between the optical sensor and the machine frame;

determining, using the first coordinate transformation and the second coordinate transformation, a third coordinate transformation between the remote sensing sensor and the machine frame; and

calibrating, using the third coordinate transformation, the perception system of the machine.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the feature includes a traction component, a brake light, a headlight, a turn signal, or a logo.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the digital camera system is part of a mobile device.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein detecting, using the optical sensor of the digital camera system, the first fiducial tag mounted on the remote sensing sensor includes:

detecting, from an image generated by the digital camera system, the first fiducial tag and the feature.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:

displaying, on a user interface, a model of the machine; and

receiving, as user input to the user interface, a selection of the model of the machine.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:

displaying, on a user interface, an outline; and

detecting that the machine is positioned within the outline.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein detecting, using the optical sensor, the feature of the machine includes:

detecting, using the optical sensor, the feature of the machine when the machine is positioned within the outline without extending beyond the outline.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:

receiving, as user input to the user interface, a location on the user interface of the feature of the machine.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first coordinate transformation includes a transform between the first fiducial tag and the remote sensing sensor.

10 . A computer-implemented method for calibrating a perception system of a machine, the method comprising:

detecting, using a first image generated by an optical sensor of a digital camera system, a first fiducial tag coupled with a remote sensing sensor and a second fiducial tag mounted on a machine frame of the machine, wherein the remote sensing sensor is coupled with the machine frame;

detecting, using a second image generated by the optical sensor of the digital camera system, the second fiducial tag and a feature of the machine;

determining, using the first fiducial tag and the second fiducial tag, a first coordinate transformation between the optical sensor and the remote sensing sensor;

determining, using the second fiducial tag and the feature, a second coordinate transformation between the optical sensor and the machine frame;

determining, using the first coordinate transformation and the second coordinate transformation, a third coordinate transformation between the remote sensing sensor and the machine frame; and

calibrating, using the third coordinate transformation, the perception system of the machine.

11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the feature includes a traction component, a brake light, a headlight, a turn signal, or a logo.

12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the digital camera system is part of a mobile device.

13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , comprising:

displaying, on a user interface, a model of the machine; and

receiving, as user input to the mobile device, a selection of the model of the machine.

14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , comprising:

receiving, as user input to the user interface, a location on the user interface of the feature of the machine.

15 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , comprising:

displaying, on a user interface, an outline; and

detecting that the machine is positioned within the outline.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2024
From: BERRY, JEFFREY K.; GRAVES, NOLAN; EASTEPP, MAXWELL T.
To: CATERPILLAR INC.
Reel/Frame 068354/0847 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20260017824A1 · Jan 15, 2026
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