Calibration Experiments of a Laser Scanner.
Calibration Experiments of a Laser Scanner.
(2127 K)
Cheok, G. S.; Leigh, S.; Rukhin, A.
NISTIR 6922; 121 p. September 2002.
Available from:
: National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
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Order number: PB2003-100824
Keywords:
lasers; angle of incidence; calibration; color; distance
metrology; LADAR; laser scanner; reflectivity
Abstract:
The potential applications of laser scanners or LADARs
(Laser Detection and Ranging) are numerous, and they
cross several sectors of the industry construction,
large-scale manufacturing, remote sensing, national
defense. A LADAR is an instrument which can rapidly
capture 3-D data of a scene in the form of x, y, z
points. The confidence in end products of the
applications 3D models, positioning, derived quantities
depends largely on the accuracy and precision of the
laser scanner. For potential analyses of error
propagation, instrumental uncertainties need to be
determined. This report chronicles exploratory
experiments conducted at the National Institute of
Standards and Technology to characterize a LADAR with
the focus on accuracy and precision. The variables
considered were distance, angle of incidence, and target
color. Other characteristics of the LADAR such as the
intensity and beam divergence were also examined. The
findings indicate that the there was no obvious global
color effect on accuracy. Decreased measurement accuracy
was observed for higher angles of incidence.
Reflectivity also contributes to measurement error with
highly reflective targets exhibiting large errors in the
shorter ranges and low reflective targets being less
precise in the longer ranges. These initial efforts
contribute to the understanding of what is required to
calibrate similar sensors in terms of significant
parameters, test procedures, and calibration facility
requirements.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899