Apparatus and method for calibrating surround-view camera systems

A calibration apparatus for a surround-view camera system having a plurality of cameras mounted to an object, comprising:

• a plurality of markers configured to measure a plurality of distances between at least a first one of the plurality of markers and at least two others of the plurality of markers;
• and
• a controller configured to visually identify the first marker and at least one of the at least two other markers from at least one image from the plurality of cameras, wherein
• the controller is configured to generate camera calibration information based on the plurality of measured distances and positions of the visually identified markers in the at least one image,
• wherein
• the controller visually identifies the first marker and the at least one of the at least two other markers via a visually distinctive characteristic on a corresponding marker, and
• the visually distinctive characteristic is one of a shape, a color, a texture, a size, a pattern or a reflectivity.