Abstract: A spatial position and orientation sensor based on a three-dimensional imaging system provides information describing the actual three-dimensional spatial position relative to the sensor of objects in the field of view of the sensor. The sensor thus directly determines its location relative to its surroundings. Movement of the sensor, and thus movement of an object carrying the sensor, relative to the surroundings is detected by comparing repeated determinations of the location in three dimensions of fixed features in the surroundings relative to the sensor. An algorithm is used to calculate changes in the position of features in the field of view of the sensor relative to the sensor. Knowledge of changes in the position relative to fixed features is used to determine movement in three dimensions of the sensor or an object carrying the sensor relative to fixed features in the surroundings. The features in the surroundings may be natural or artificial.

Abstract: A spatial position and orientation sensor based on a three-dimensional imaging system provides information describing the actual three-dimensional spatial position relative to the sensor of objects in the field of view of the sensor. The sensor thus directly determines its location relative to its surroundings. Movement of the sensor, and thus movement of an object carrying the sensor, relative to the surroundings is detected by comparing repeated determinations of the location in three dimensions of fixed features in the surroundings relative to the sensor. An algorithm is used to calculate changes in the position of features in the field of view of the sensor relative to the sensor. Knowledge of changes in position relative to fixed features is used to determine movement in three dimensions of the sensor or an object carrying the sensor relative to the fixed features in the surroundings. The features in the surroundings may be natural or artificial.