Automated multisensor polyhedral model acquisition

We describe a method for automatically generating accurate piecewise planar models for indoor scenes using a combination of a 2D laser scanner and a camera on a mobile platform. The method exploits the complementarity of the sensors. Mapping techniques applied to 2D laser scans simultaneously compute a map and the location of the sensor in the unknown environment. This provides an initial estimate for the vision algorithms by compensating the rotation, foreshortening and the scale change between images. The vision algorithms are then able to compute a very accurate registration (via a plane to plane homography), which is used to segment the model into planar facets, and to improve the estimate of the model and sensor position. Results are demonstrated on a man made scene using a 2D laser scanner and a calibrated camera mounted on a trolley.