Abstract: An improved vehicle surface scanning system for assessing the damaged surfaces of a vehicle with resulting estimates of repair costs. A mobile scanning booth is assembled in an open-ended tunnel-like rig having a plurality of reflective panels positioned along opposite sides and across the roof of the booth to serve as deflection screens. A plurality of scanner modules are mounted in fixed positions about opposite ends of the booth and positioned to face the interior of the booth. Wheels provide controlled locomotion/movement of the scanning booth over the vehicle. The scanner modules use a combined hybrid methodology of active stereo 3D reconstruction and deflectometry to acquire data measurements along the surfaces of the vehicle incrementally as the booth is moved. The incremental measurement data acquired during the mobile scanning is processed and furthermore combined to produce accurate reports of the damage surfaces and estimates of associated repair costs.

Abstract: A hybrid 3D optical scanning system combining methodologies of active stereo 3D reconstruction and deflectometry to provide accurate 3D surface measurements of an object under inspection. In a preferred embodiment, the present system comprises a calibrated digital camera stereo pair and first digital projector for active stereo 3D reconstruction metrology positioned at selected distance apart on the same horizontal plane facing the inspection object at an optimal incidence angle relative to the object surface. A secondary digital projector for deflectometry is directed to project a pattern sequence across the optical projection path of the first digital projector and onto a nonplanar deflection screen extended between the digital camera and the inspection object at a selected angle relative thereto, the selected angle being chosen so that that the pattern projected onto the deflection screen by the secondary digital projector reflects from the surface of the inspection object towards the digital camera.