Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for estimating match of a 3D alignment pose of a runtime 3D point cloud relative to a trained model 3D point cloud. It includes scoring a match of a candidate pose of the runtime 3D point cloud relative to the trained model 3D point cloud, including a visibility check that comprises (a) receiving a 3D camera optical center (b) receiving the trained model 3D point cloud; (c) receiving the runtime 3D point cloud; and (d) constructing a plurality of line segments from the optical center to a plurality of 3D points in the 3D point cloud at the runtime candidate pose. A system and method for determining an accurate representation of a 3D imaged object by omitting spurious points from a composite point cloud based on the presence or absence of such points in a given number of point clouds is also provided.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for aligning first three-dimensional (3D) point cloud image representing a model with a second 3D point cloud image representing a target, using a vision system processor. A passing overall score is established for possible alignments of the first 3D point cloud image with the second 3D point cloud image. A coverage score for at least one alignment of the first 3D point cloud image with the second 3D point cloud image is estimated so that the coverage score describes an amount of desired features in the first 3D point cloud image present in the second 3D point cloud image. A clutter score is estimated so that the clutter score describes extraneous features in the second 3D point cloud image. An overall score is computed as a difference between the coverage score and the clutter score.