Volumetric Based Inspection
G.H. Tarbox, S.N. Gottschlich, Lester A. Gerhardt · 2005
A novel approach to inspection is pre- sented based on comparing a volumetric representa- tion of a reference object to a volumetric representa- tion of an actual object iteratively created from sensor data. The use of volumetric representations gives this approach a number of distinct advantages over the more traditional surface-based inspection methods. One significant advantage of volumetric inspection is that there is no need to identify geometric features, particularly important when inspecting objects such as castings and forgings whose features are often dif- ficult to identify. Secondly, the volumetric represen- tation lends itself naturally to a multi-sensor environ- ment. By this we mean that a volumetric model of the sensed object can be synthesized utilizing information from multiple sensors of varying types, accuracy, loca- tion, etc. This allows a choice of the most appropriate sensor for acquiring information about the different regions of the object. Finally, the volumetric represen- tation allows us to carry out true three-dimensional inspection as opposed to the typical approach where renderings of the reference model are compared to two-dimensional images of the actual object.