3D scanner's measurement path establishment automation by robot simulator

Recently, optical 3D scanners are frequently used for inspection of parts, assembly and manufacturing tooling. One of the advantages is being able to measure a large area fast and accurately. Owing to recent advances in high-resolution image sensing technology, high power illumination technology, and high speed microprocessors, the accuracy and resolution of optical 3D scanners are being improved rapidly. In order to measure the entire geometry of objects, multiple scans have to be performed in various setups by moving either the objects or the scanner. This paper introduces novel methods to measure the entire geometry of objects by automatically changing the setups and then aligning the scanned data in a single coordinate system.