A single-camera method for three-dimensional video imaging.
We describe a novel method for recovering the three-dimensional (3D) point geometry of an object from images acquired with a single-camera. Typically, multiple cameras are used to record 3D geometry. Occasionally, however, there is a need to record 3D geometry when the use of multiple cameras is either too costly or impractical. The algorithm described here uses single-camera images and requires in addition that each marker on the object be linked to at least one other marker by a known distance. The linkage distances are used to recover information about the third dimension that would otherwise be lost in single-camera two-dimensional images. The utilities of the method are its low-cost, simplicity, and ease of calibration and implementation. We were able to estimate 3D distances and positions as accurately as with a commercially available multi-camera 3D system. This method may be useful in pilot studies to determine whether 3D imaging systems are required, or, it can serve as a low-cost alternative to multi-camera systems.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014741:Video Recording / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*