Effect of temperature on calibration quality of structured-light three-dimensional scanners

Abstract

This paper presents the outcome of research into the effects of ambient temperature changes on structured-light three-dimensional (3D) scanners. The tests were conducted in a thermal chamber and consisted of a comparison of the 3D measurement of a special reference unit (made of a carbon composite) performed at different temperatures, with measurements performed at the calibration temperature. A contact measuring arm with temperature compensation was used as a reference. Based on the results of these experiments, we propose a method that allows us to extend the existing scanner calibration method by using a temperature-correction procedure that is based on linear and nonlinear mathematical models. An exemplary application of this procedure has shown that the range of temperatures in which scanner accuracy is within declared limits can be increased 11-fold.

Temperature Compensation Method for Digital Cameras in 2D and 3D Measurement Applications

“…The appropriate level of precision is achieved through a careful calibration process that typically consists of at least two steps: the camera calibration process and the phase calibration process [ 7 ]. Apart from 3D measurement systems that require recalibration before each set of measurements [ 8 ], the employed measurement strategy often assumes that the camera is calibrated only once in a laboratory environment [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ], under stabilized environmental conditions (temperature, vibration, humidity, etc.) and using specialized calibration artifacts.…”

Temperature Compensation Method for Mechanical Base of 3D-Structured Light Scanners

“…Two of the biggest disadvantages of the compensation methods described in Refs. [37,52] are the necessity of manufacturing a specialized thermally stable artifact and access to the thermal chamber. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to this issue which relies on the simulation of thermal deformations and virtual measurements of a virtual artifact.…”

“…Among the factors presented in the Ishikawa diagram ( Figure 2), the effects of some on scanner uncertainty have not yet been entirely investigated; in particular, we are interested in temperature [15,20,34,37]. The effect of temperature on 3D-structured light scanners can be observed in three aspects: the effect on the digital camera, on the projector, and on the mechanical frame (often called the mechanical base) [2,3,30,38].…”

“…The authors developed a compensation method and investigated the compensation results when changing the ambient temperature in the laboratory using an air conditioner. We have developed a similar method, but used a thermal chamber to validate our compensation method (as described in Reference [37]). The common denominator of the aforementioned methods is that they require specialized, thermally stable artifacts validated on other more accurate measuring methods.…”

“…This study is the continuation of the research introduced in Refs. [37,46], where we described the effects of temperature on the digital cameras used in 3D-structured light scanners and on the calibration accuracy of a full 3D-structured light scanner, as well as proposing a method for their compensation.…”