The present disclosure relates to computer vision technology. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to computer vision systems and methods for generating building models using three-dimensional sensing and augmented reality techniques.
In the insurance underwriting, building construction, solar, and real estate industries, computer-based systems for generating models of physical structures such as residential homes, commercial buildings, etc., is becoming increasingly important. In particular, in order to generate an accurate model of a physical structure, one must have an accurate set of data which adequately describes that structure. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly important to provide computer-based systems which have adequate capabilities to generate floor plans and layouts of both the interior and exterior features of buildings, as well as to identify specific features of such buildings (e.g., doors, windows, closets, etc.).
With the advent of mobile data capturing devices including phones, tablets and ground based vehicles, it is now possible to generate models of structures using such devices. Moreover, the types and quality of sensors available in mobile devices continues to improve as time progresses. For example, today's mobile devices (e.g., smart phones) now come equipped with a wide array of sensors, such as cameras, gyroscopes, accelerometers, infrared sensors, and three-dimensional sensors such as light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors. Even further, due to the increased computing power of today's mobile devices, additional technologies such as augmented reality (AR) are being integrated into such devices.
What would be desirable are computer vision systems and methods which allow for the rapid generation of building models of structures, including interior and exterior models of such structures, which harness the very powerful three-dimensional sensing and AR capabilities of today's mobile devices. Accordingly, the computer vision systems and methods of the present disclosure solve these, and other, needs.
The present disclosure relates to computer vision systems and methods for generating building models using three-dimensional sensing and augmented reality (AR) techniques. Image frames including images of a structure to be modeled (e.g., the interior or exterior of a building) are captured by a camera of a mobile device such as a smart phone, as well as three-dimensional data corresponding to the image frames. The three-dimensional data could be captured using a three-dimensional sensor of the mobile device, or computed from the image frames. An object of interest, such as a structural feature of the building (e.g., wall, ceiling, floor, door, window, exterior surface, roof surface, etc.), is detected using both the image frames and the three-dimensional data. An AR icon is determined based upon the type of object detected, and is displayed on the mobile device superimposed on the image frames. The user can manipulate the AR icon to better fit or match the object of interest in the image frames. If the AR icon matches the object of interest (to the user's satisfaction), the user can capture the object of interest using a capture icon displayed on the display of the mobile device. Successive objects of interest can be captured in the manner described above until all objects of interest have captured, whereupon a complete model of the structure (e.g., a model of the interior or exterior of the structure) can be created.
The foregoing features of the invention will be apparent from the following Detailed Description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present disclosure relates to computer vision systems and methods for generating building models using three-dimensional sensing and augmented reality (AR) techniques, as described in detail below in connection with
The mobile device 12 also includes a camera 40 for capturing live video (in particular, a plurality of image frames which, together, constitute a video) and a three-dimensional sensor 50 for sensing three-dimensional data corresponding to an interior and/or exterior feature of a building or an object to be modeled. The sensor 50 could be, for example, a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor or other type of three-dimensional sensor which is capable of generating three-dimensional data, such as a point cloud, corresponding to an interior and/or exterior feature of a structure or object to be imaged.
In step 66, the processor 20 processes the image frame and the three-dimensional data to detect an object in the image frame, using the image frame and the three-dimensional data. As will be discussed in greater detail below in connection with
In step 68, the processor 20 determines the type of object detected. This could be accomplished using the algorithm discussed in step 66 above, with one or more classification functions being performed. For example, in the case of a CNN, the CNN could output a binary classifier indicating whether the object detected is, or is not, a door. Multiple such classifications could be performed such that the algorithm can classify various detected objects such as walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, exterior features, roof features, landscaping features, etc. In step 70, the processor 20 determines an augmented reality (AR) icon based on the type of object determined in step 68. For example, if step 68 determines that the detected object is a wall, in step 70, the processor 20 determines a suitable AR icon (e.g., a displayable user interface (UI) element that can be manipulated by the user, such as a UI widget or tool) corresponding to the wall. Of course, other AR icons can be identified in step 70 corresponding to other types of objects detected in step 68 (e.g., a door AR icon if a door is detected, a ceiling AR icon if a ceiling is detected, a floor AR icon if a floor is detected, a window AR icon if a window is detected, etc.).
In step 72, the processor 20 causes a display of the device 12 to display the image frame as well as the AR icon superimposed on the image frame. For example, if the image frame includes a wall, the image frame (including the wall) is displayed on the display of the device 12, with a wall AR icon superimposed on the wall in the image frame. The AR icon could be superimposed on a portion of the detected object displayed in the image frame, and/or it could be superimposed such that it appears over the entire object displayed in the image frame.
In step 74, the processor 20 detects user input (e.g., the user taking an action in a user interface displayed on the device 12, such as tapping and/or manipulating an icon) and determines whether user input has occurred. If a negative determination is made, control returns back to step 62 so that the foregoing processing steps can be repeated (e.g., in real time, such that a real-time image frame is displayed along with a suitable AR icon which could move in the display so that it tracks movement of the object in the image when the mobile device 12 is moved). If a positive determination is made, step 76 occurs, wherein the processor 20 determines whether the user input indicates that the user desires to capture the object. In such circumstances, the user had judged that the AR icon that is displayed superimposed on the object sufficiently represents the object, and that a model representation of the object should be created and added to a three-dimensional model. If so, step 78 occurs, wherein a model representation of the object is created by the processor 20 (e.g., a 3D plane corresponding to a detected wall is created) and added to a three-dimensional model created by the processor 20 and stored in the memory 30. Otherwise, step 76 occurs.
In step 80, a determination is made as to whether the user input indicates that the user wishes to adjust the displayed AR icon. For example, the user may wish to adjust the displayed AR icon so that it better corresponds to the object over which it is displayed on the screen, in order to ensure accurate modeling of the object. If a positive determination occurs, step 82 occurs, wherein the AR icon is adjusted based on user input (e.g., by the user repositioning the icon, changing its shape, etc.) and the adjusted AR icon is re-displayed superimposed over the object. Otherwise, step 84 occurs, wherein a determination is made as to whether the current model of the feature of interest (e.g., a model of a room interior, a building exterior, etc.) is complete. If a negative determination is made, control returns to step 62 so that additional objects can be detected and modeled in the manner described above. Otherwise, if a positive determination is made, step 86 occurs, wherein the processor 20 generates a complete model of the feature of interest, and processing ends. The complete model could be saved in the memory 30 of the device 12, and/or transmitted to another computer system and/or program for further processing thereby (e.g., to generate an estimate of the cost of materials corresponding to the modeled feature of interest, generate a report detailing the modeled feature of interest, etc.).
Alternatively and additionally, as illustrated in
Alternatively and additionally, ceilings can be modeled using a different AR tool shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
It is noted that information about walls captured by the system could be utilized to automatically construct roof features. Such a feature is helpful in circumstances where the three-dimensional sensor 40 is not capable of detecting three-dimensional data corresponding to roof features (e.g., the sensor is not sensitive enough, or the roof features are not within range of the sensors). As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Having thus described the system and method in detail, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit or scope thereof. It will be understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make any variations and modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. All such variations and modifications, including those discussed above, are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure. What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the following claims.
This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/705,130 filed on Mar. 25, 2022, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,688,135 issued on Jun. 27, 2023, which claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/165,972 filed on Mar. 25, 2021, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20230343030 A1 | Oct 2023 | US |
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63165972 | Mar 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17705130 | Mar 2022 | US |
Child | 18214842 | US |