Training method and system for oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling equipment

An automated training system that monitors a training scan to display training information, the automated training system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• one or more memories that are accessed by the one or more processors;
• a display device;
• and
• computer instructions, stored in one or more of the one or more memories that, when executed by the automated training system, control the automated training system to:
• display a training user interface on the display device,
• continuously capture images of multiple surfaces of a three-dimensional, solid object from a wand that illuminates the one or more surfaces and receives reflected and scattered light from the one or more illuminated surfaces as the wand is moved along a trajectory to scan the one or more surfaces during the training scan,
• compute and store, in one or more of the one or more memories, an ordered set of spatial positions and orientations of the wand by matching images of the captured images to projections of a previously created three-dimensional digital model of the solid object wherein the ordered set of spatial positions and orientations of the wand comprises a plurality of vector points and vector point includes:
• three spatial coordinates, three orientation coordinates, and an indication of the time at which an image was captured from which the spatial coordinates and orientation coordinates were calculated, and
• wherein, for each vector point, the three spatial coordinates and three orientation coordinates are computed by:
• searching the previously created three-dimensional digital model of the solid object for a projection of a portion of the previously created three-dimensional digital model of the solid object that best matches with the captured image and determining a translation and rotation of the captured image, relative to the previously created 3D digital model of the solid object, that places the captured image in a position corresponding to the projection;
• and
• computing coordinates of the spatial positions and orientations of the wand from the determined translation and rotation,
• compute and display, within the training user interface on the display device, information regarding the accuracy and efficiency of the training scan from the stored ordered set of spatial positions and orientations of the wand.