Range-image-based method and system for automatic sensor planning

A method for providing automatic sensor planning to measure the shape and dimension of a physical part, comprising:

• projecting a fringe pattern on a surface of the physical part;
• projecting an incrementally phase shifted fringe pattern on said surface;
• and
• determining based on said projected fringe pattern and said projected incrementally phase shifted fringe pattern whether a sensor and a fringe generator have a clear line-of-sight to said surface.

A method for determining whether a sensor and a fringe generator have line-of-sight visibility to an object surface, comprising:

• inputting phase shift images to a computer;
• computing a combined image based on said input phase shift images;
• scanning said combined image;
• and
• determining whether any occlusions prevent clear line-of-sight from either the sensor or the fringe generator to the object surface.