Abstract: A system is disclosed that comprises a camera module and a control and evaluation unit. The camera module is designed to be attached to the surveying pole and comprises at least one camera for capturing images. The control and evaluation unit has stored a program with program code so as to control and execute a functionality in which a series of images of the surrounding is captured with the at least one camera; a SLAM-evaluation with a defined algorithm using the series of images is performed, wherein a reference point field is built up and poses for the captured images are determined; and, based on the determined poses, a point cloud comprising 3D-positions of points of the surrounding can be computed by forward intersection using the series of images, particularly by using dense matching algorithm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to control a drive mechanism of an automated machine for approaching a point of interest on an object, the object having a surface on which a reference information of the object is provided as a one- or two-dimensional pattern, the method comprising capturing at least one image of the object by means of at least one camera of the automated machine, identifying the reference information in the at least one image, determining a position and orientation of the reference information relative to the at least one camera, determining a position and orientation of the object based on the determined position and orientation of the reference information, and controlling the drive mechanism based on the determined position and orientation of the object.

Abstract: A measuring system for determining 3D coordinates of measurement points on an object surface which has a scanning apparatus for measuring the measurement points on the object surface and for determining inner measurement point coordinates in an inner scanning coordinate system. Furthermore, a referencing arrangement for producing referencing information for referencing the inner measurement point coordinates in the outer object coordinate system and an evaluation unit for determining the 3D coordinates of the measurement points in the outer object coordinate system on the basis of the inner measurement point coordinates and the referencing information are provided such that the inner measurement point coordinates are in the form of 3D coordinates in the outer object coordinate system. The scanning apparatus is in this case carried in an unmanned, controllable, automotive air vehicle.

Abstract: A method for a six degree of freedom position and orientation determination of a known shape in a scenery is disclosed. The method includes taking a range image with a range imaging camera and a visual picture with a digital camera. The range imaging camera includes a sensor array with a first number of pixels. Determining a 3D cluster of points from range information collected from the sensor array to a point of the scenery. the digital camera comprises an image sensor having a second number of pixels, resulting in a 2D picture. A stored 3D digital representation of the known shape may be fitted in a virtual space to match the reproduction of the known object in the 2D picture and the 3D cluster of points and determining the six degree of freedom position and orientation of the known shape according to the virtual match.

Abstract: System for determining positions along a direction of advance, having a first sensor, particularly a line sensor, having a scanning length (L) for scanning a first 2D pattern and producing a scan signal. The first 2D pattern has pattern elements that each form a first code word on at least one portion of the scanning length (L), which first code word codes a position along the direction of advance absolutely. In addition, the first code word can be taken as a basis for determining a deviation from an ideal position for the first sensor in relation to the first 2D pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coordinate measuring machine comprising a stationary base, a probe head, at least one linear drive mechanism for moving in a first direction, the linear drive mechanism having a linear guide and a movable member being supported for movement along the guide by bearings. The linear drive mechanism further comprises at least a first pre-calibrated integral sensor-package having at least two displacement sensors each for measuring a distance from the movable member to the guide in a direction being non-parallel with respect to the first direction, wherein the sensed distances indicate a translational displacement of the movable member from an ordinary bearing position in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and a rotational displacement of the movable member.

Abstract: A Method for providing information about an object using an unmanned aerial vehicle with a data acquisition unit is disclosed according to some embodiments of the invention. The method may include determining positional data with reference to the object, the positional data being referenced to a measuring coordinate system, providing a digital template regarding the object, the template at least partly representing the object in coarse manner, and referencing the template with the positional data so that the template corresponds as to its spatial parameters to the object in the measuring coordinate system.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a method for controlling a production process of an object in a production assembly and for compensating errors occurring in the production process. For example, the method comprising generating actual property data comprising obtained values of properties of at least one sample object produced in the production assembly according to a production model; performing a nominal-actual value comparison with the obtained values of properties of the actual property data and set values of corresponding properties of nominal property data of the object; and automatically creating an adapted production model based on the nominal property data and on the deviation data. The adapted production model may be usable in an adapted production process for producing an adapted object in the production assembly, and differs from the nominal property data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a calibration method that can be carried out without a reference system for an angle measuring device having a code carrier carrying an absolute position code, and at least two reading heads comprising a fixed, known angle position at an angular distance, wherein the code carrier can be rotated relative to the reading heads, and different angle positions of the code carrier relative to the reading heads can thus be captured. Angle position values of the reading heads in an angular setting are determined and angular error is determined, which are repeated. And, a mathematical analysis method is performed, including determining the parameters of a mathematical function quantifying the angular error, and determining calibration parameters as parameters of the quantifying mathematical function or as a correction or code table derived from the parameters.

Abstract: A surface sensing device comprising an optical monitoring system for measuring a displacement of the tip a hollow stylus with respect to a stylus carrier. According to the invention, the light emitting means of the optical monitoring system are built in such a way that the beam has at least two distinguishable light characteristics with a given characteristics distribution. The optical monitoring system further comprises an optically encoding component positioned in the stylus carrier in the optical return path and designed to transform the information of an impinging position of the returned beam upon the optical encoding component into a change of the characteristics distribution of the returned beam, and the detector means is sensitive for the at least two distinguishable light characteristics and built for generating the electrical output signal dependent on the changed characteristics distribution of the returned beam.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a sensor arrangement for inclination determination with respect to at least one axis. The sensor arrangement may include a code element having a code pattern and a line sensor, which is sensitive at least with respect to one wavelength range, having a reception direction orthogonal to its extension direction. In some embodiments the code element and the line sensor are arranged such that the extension direction of the line sensor and an extension direction of the code element are oriented in the same direction. The code element and the line sensor may be rigidly connected at a spacing of at least 1 mm and at most 10 mm such that a location, which is angle-dependent with respect to the reception direction, of a projection of the code pattern onto the line sensor can be determined by means of the line sensor.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a location determination apparatus for determining a location of two components relative to one another. The apparatus may comprise at least one location encoder having a read head in cooperation with a code for generating first position determination data at a first measurement frequency. According to some embodiments of the invention, at least one inertial measurement unit is arranged for additionally determining translational and/or rotational accelerations of at least one of the two components and, moreover, for generating second position determination data with respect to the location at a second measurement rate.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a location determination apparatus for determining a location of two components relative to one another. The apparatus may comprise at least one location encoder having a read head in cooperation with a code for generating first position determination data at a first measurement frequency. According to some embodiments of the invention, at least one inertial measurement unit is arranged for additionally determining translational and/or rotational accelerations of at least one of the two components and, moreover, for generating second position determination data with respect to the location at a second measurement rate.

Abstract: A laser scanner measures a surface of spaces and/or objects and produces a point cloud representing the surface. The laser scanner includes a laser source for producing laser light, a detector for receiving the laser light, and a platform that pivots relative to a stationary base of the laser scanner. The laser light is directed to a particular point on the surface through an outlet point. Laser light scattered at the particular point is received through an inlet point on the platform. A distance to the particular point is determined using laser light scattered and received by the detector. A direction to the particular point is detected using, for example, one or more sensors for determining a pivot position of the platform relative to the base. A parallel kinematic drive pivots the platform relative to the base to scan the laser beam over points of the surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring machine and a method for automated measurement of an object and detection of differences between a feature of the object and CAD data of the object. The measuring machine comprises a probe head, a probe system comprising a probe and measurement functionality for determining three- dimensional coordinates of a feature of the object, a local computer terminal, an assigned memory unit, and an assigned set of measurement software programmes for controlling the measuring machine. The stored CAD data of the object comprise typical dimensions and tolerances of the features, and the assigned set of measurement software programmes comprises an optimization algorithm for the measurement of each feature which algorithm is designed to automatically select measuring parameters of the measuring machine and/or a measurement software programme from the set of measurement software programmes.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to an optical measuring device for determining 3D coordinates of an object. The optical measuring device may include a projector device for illuminating the object with at least one predefined pattern; at least one PSA camera for capturing a 2D image of the pattern as reflected from the object; computing means for measuring a sequence of brightness values of at least one 2D image point from the 2D images, and calculating a 3D coordinate of an object point which is correlated with the measured sequence of brightness values of the 2D image point. The optical measuring device may also include a TOF camera for capturing at least one range image of the object, the range image including distance information of the object for the dissolution of ambiguity in calculating the 3D coordinate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tool location system for a handheld tool in a manufacturing environment, wherein the tool is equipped with a camera for capturing images. According to the invention, the location system comprises numerical evaluator means, which is built to determine a tool-location of the tool by a simultaneous location and mapping (SLAM) navigation calculation based on the images from the camera. Therein the tool-location is determined with respect to a global coordinate system in relation to the manufacturing environment from portions of the images which comprise a view of the manufacturing environment and the tool-location is determined with respect to a local coordinate system in relation to the workpiece from portions of the images which comprise a view of the workpiece.

Abstract: Reflector arrangement for position determination and/or marking of target points, in particular for industrial or geodetic surveying, having a retroreflector for position determination for the reflector arrangement using parallel, in particular coaxial, beam reflection, and a sensor arrangement. According to the invention, the sensor arrangement has a lens and a sensor which is sensitive with respect to at least one wavelength range, with a reception direction that is orthogonal to the detection surface thereof, wherein the lens and the sensor are rigidly connected such that it is possible using the sensor to determine a location, which is incidence-angle-dependent with respect to the reception direction, of an illumination cross section defined by the lens on the detection surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a sensor arrangement for inclination determination with respect to at least one axis. The sensor arrangement may include a code element having a code pattern and a line sensor, which is sensitive at least with respect to one wavelength range, having a reception direction orthogonal to its extension direction. In some embodiments the code element and the line sensor are arranged such that the extension direction of the line sensor and an extension direction of the code element are oriented in the same direction. The code element and the line sensor may be rigidly connected at a spacing of at least 1 mm and at most 10 mm such that a location, which is angle-dependent with respect to the reception direction, of a projection of the code pattern onto the line sensor can be determined by means of the line sensor.

Abstract: In a method for gauging surfaces (7?), in which a frequency-modulated laser beam is generated, the laser beam is emitted onto the surface as measuring radiation (MS), the measuring radiation (MS) backscattered from the surface (7?) is received and the distance between a reference point and the surface (7?) is measured interferometrically, wherein the measuring radiation (MS) is emitted and received while the surface to be gauged is being scanned, and a measuring arm and a reference interferometer arm with a partially common beam path are used, deviations from the essentially perpendicular impingement of the measuring radiation (MS) on the surface (7?) are taken into account algorithmically during distance measurement and/or are avoided or reduced during scanning by controlling the emission of the measuring radiation (MS).