Hand-held range sensor for 3-D surface measurement without surface markers and secondary tracking devices

三维（3-D）扫描仪或距离传感器通常用于测量物体的表面形状。它们通常能够在不接触物体表面的情况下快速获取密集的表面坐标数据。应用包括3D模型存档、逆向工程、体积测量、物体形状比较和检查。传统的扫描仪使用诸如臂或台架的机械装置来在扫描对象时定位传感器头。然而，定位装置可能不可能用于缺乏空间或合适的支撑表面的地方，例如用于内表面、受限空间，复杂的形状和不可移动的物体。这个项目的目的是完善和测试一个新的专利手持3-三维扫描仪，将能够测量表面，而不必在物体表面上放置标记，也不必使用二次跟踪系统来跟踪扫描传感器头的移动。这将是对具有这些限制的现有设备的改进，并且将允许在扫描头更自由运动的情况下对表面进行完全非接触式测量，并且更好地接近难以接近的表面。具体应用包括测量无法接触的表面，如脆弱或易碎的表面（考古遗址和人工制品），非坚固的表面（动物，人类，植物），危险材料，法医应用中的表面，以及难以进入的灾难现场。

Three-dimensional (3-D) scanners or range sensors are commonly used to measure the surface shape of objects. They are typically capable of rapidly acquiring dense surface coordinate data without contacting the object surface. Applications include 3-D model archiving, reverse engineering, volume measurement, object shape comparison and inspection. Conventional scanners use mechanical devices such as arms or gantries to position the sensor head while scanning an object. However, positioning devices may be impossible to use where there is lack of space or a suitable supporting surface, such as for interior surfaces, confined spaces, complex shapes and immovable objects.This project aims to refine and test a new proprietary hand-held 3-D scanner that will enable measurement of surfaces without having to place markers on the object surface and without having to use secondary tracking systems to track the movement of the scanning sensor head. This will be an improvement over existing devices which have these limitations, and will allow fully non-contacting measurement of a surface with a more free motion of the scanning head, and better access to surfaces with difficult accessibility. Specific applications include measurement of surfaces that cannot be touched such as delicate or fragile surfaces (archaeological sites and artefacts), non-firm surfaces (animal, human, plant), hazardous materials, surfaces in forensic applications, as well as those in poorly accessible disaster sites.