Method of determining optical sensor coverage
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMichelle Lynn Kristofik, Dennis Mack Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is provided of determining the coverage of at least one optical sensor in a three dimensional (3-D) area. The 3-D area is divided into cells. The field of view of the sensor in the 3-D area is determined and rays are projected from the sensor into the 3-D area within sensor's field of view. The intersections between the rays and the cells are determined and a visual display of the 3-D area is generated showing the coverage of the sensor, based on the intersections.
Claims21
A method of determining the coverage of at least one optical sensor in a three dimensional (3-D) area, comprising:
- determining the field of view of the sensor in the 3-D area;
- projecting rays from the sensor into the 3-D area within the field of view of the sensor;
- dividing the 3-D area into cells;
- determining the intersections between the rays and the cells;
- generating a visual display of the 3-D area showing the coverage of the sensor, based on the intersections.
A method of determining the coverage of at least one optical sensor monitoring a three dimensional (3-D) area, comprising:
- determining the position of the optical sensor within the 3-D area;
- generating a 3-D model of the 3-D area;
- introducing at least one obstruction into the 3-D model;
- dividing the 3-D model into cells;
- projecting rays from the optical sensor into the 3-D area within the 3-D model;
- identifying the cells and the obstructions intersected by the projected rays;
- and
- generating a visual display of the 3-D model showing the areas covered by the sensor based using the identified intersections.
A method of optimizing the coverage of optical sensors monitoring a three dimensional (3-D) area containing obstructions, comprising:
- selecting a location and orientation for each of the optical sensors within the 3-D area;
- generating a 3-D model of the 3-D area including the optical sensors;
- introducing obstructions into the 3-D model;
- dividing the 3-D model into cells;
- projecting rays from each of the optical sensors into the 3-D area of the model;
- identifying the cells and obstructions intersected by the projected rays;
- generating a visual display of the 3-D model showing the locations of the optical sensors and gaps in the 3-D area not covered by the optical sensors;
- and
- changing at least one of the number, location and orientation of the sensors based on the visual display.
A method of determining the coverage of optical sensors monitoring a three dimensional (3-D) area containing obstructions, comprising:
- determining location and orientation of each of the sensors within the 3-D area;
- generating a sensor target model of a box centered at the location of each of the sensors;
- generating a shot-line ray from each of the sensors to substantially the middle of the corresponding target model box;
- generating a 3-D model of the 3-D area including the sensors;
- introducing obstructions into the 3-D model;
- dividing the 3-D model into cells;
- projecting diverging ray lines from each of the sensors into the 3-D area of the model;
- identifying the cells and the obstructions intersected by the projected rays;
- generating a visual display of the 3-D model showing the locations of the sensors, the areas covered by the sensors and the areas not covered by the sensors;
- and
- changing the location or orientation of at least one of the sensors based on the visual display of the areas not covered by the sensors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.