An automatic 3D reconstruction system for texture-less objects

Abstract Structure from Motion (SfM) is an image based method for 3D reconstruction of objects. This method coupled with Dense Multi-View Stereo (DMVS) can be used to generate an accurate point cloud of texture-full objects. Although this process is fully automatic, capturing images in proper locations is hard especially for texture-less objects which need a pattern projection procedure to have a successful matching step in SfM. This study aims to propose an automatic and portable system which can provide a pattern on objects and capture a set of high quality images in a way that a complete and accurate 3D model can be generated by the captured images using SFM and DMVS method. The system consists of three parts including a glassy turntable with a novel pattern projection system, a digital camera located on a mono-pod mounted on a length adjustable bar attached to the box of turntable and a controller system to control two other parts. Given the speed and step parameters for the system in a smart phone as the controller system, the digital camera automatically captures an image after every rotation step of the table. To evaluate the system, five different objects were tested under four criteria including plane fitting, structural resolution test, scale resolving test and comparing with a reference 3D model obtained with a commercial accurate laser scanner known as GOM ATOS Compact laser scanner. The average standard deviation for all the cited criteria was around 0.2 mm which illustrates the ability of the proposed system to capture high quality images for 3D reconstruction of texture-less objects.