Robust Targetless Extrinsic Calibration of RGB-D Camera Systems with Limited Co-visibility using Penetrating Line Features

Core Concepts

PeLiCal, a novel line-based calibration approach, enables robust, targetless, and real-time extrinsic calibration of RGB-D camera systems with limited overlap by leveraging long line features from the surroundings and a convergence voting algorithm.

Abstract

The paper presents PeLiCal, a novel approach for extrinsic calibration of RGB-D camera systems with limited co-visibility. The key highlights are:

PeLiCal is a targetless calibration method that leverages long line features from the surrounding environment, without requiring specialized equipment or highly accurate camera motion estimation.

The algorithm selectively incorporates informative line measurements by projecting the estimated rotation matrix onto the SO(3) manifold and evaluating the existence of a translation vector using geometric constraints derived from Plücker coordinates.

A convergence voting algorithm is introduced to robustly handle outliers in the line feature measurements, enabling consistent calibration results regardless of the initial conditions.

Extensive experiments demonstrate the superior and stable performance of PeLiCal compared to existing calibration methods, especially in settings with increased baseline in stereo setups where the overlap between camera views is reduced.

Stats

The paper reports the following key metrics:

Discrepancy between estimated and actual pose variation for rotation (up to 1.2077°) and translation (up to 1.3918 cm) in setups with limited camera overlap.
Comparison of calibration accuracy with other methods (Kalibr, ROS Calibrator, CamMap) in stereo setups with 30 cm and 45 cm baselines. PeLiCal outperforms the other methods across various evaluation metrics.

Quotes

"Without requiring a large calibration target, which is commonly observable, we focus on line features intersecting two cameras. Accordingly, our algorithm performs reliably in real-time, without a pattern board, additional external devices, or inter-frame motion estimation, even if co-visibility is limited."
"The calibration accuracy of our method is validated from various configurations of FOV using a specially designed device. The algorithm shows superior and stable accuracy with existing calibration tools, especially in settings with an increased baseline in stereo setups."

Key Insights Distilled From

PeLiCal: Targetless Extrinsic Calibration via Penetrating Lines for RGB-D Cameras with Limited Co-visibility

by Jaeho Shin,S... at arxiv.org 04-23-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2404.13949.pdf

Deeper Inquiries

How can the proposed line-based calibration approach be extended to handle dynamic environments or scenes with moving objects

The proposed line-based calibration approach can be extended to handle dynamic environments or scenes with moving objects by incorporating techniques for motion estimation and tracking. In dynamic environments, where objects are moving, traditional calibration methods may struggle to maintain accuracy due to the changing scene. By integrating algorithms for object tracking and motion estimation, the calibration process can adapt to the dynamic nature of the environment.
One approach could involve utilizing feature tracking algorithms to follow key points or lines in the scene as they move. By continuously updating the position and orientation of these features, the calibration algorithm can adjust for the changes in the scene. Additionally, incorporating predictive models based on the movement patterns of objects can help anticipate changes and improve the robustness of the calibration process in dynamic environments.
Furthermore, real-time feedback mechanisms can be implemented to validate the calibration results as the scene evolves. By continuously comparing the estimated calibration parameters with the actual scene observations, the algorithm can dynamically adjust and refine the calibration to account for any changes due to moving objects.

What are the potential limitations of the convergence voting algorithm, and how could it be further improved to handle more challenging scenarios

The convergence voting algorithm, while effective in identifying inliers and outliers based on a predefined threshold, may have limitations in handling more challenging scenarios with complex noise patterns or sparse feature matches. To further improve the algorithm and address these limitations, several enhancements can be considered:

Adaptive Thresholding: Instead of using a fixed threshold for determining inliers, an adaptive thresholding mechanism can be implemented. This approach dynamically adjusts the threshold based on the distribution of feature matches, allowing for more flexibility in handling varying levels of noise and outliers.

Robust Estimation Techniques: Integrating robust estimation techniques, such as RANSAC or M-estimation, can enhance the algorithm's resilience to outliers and noisy data. These techniques can help improve the accuracy of the convergence voting process by iteratively fitting models to the data and identifying the most consistent matches.

Outlier Rejection Strategies: Implementing more sophisticated outlier rejection strategies, such as consensus-based filtering or model verification, can help improve the algorithm's ability to distinguish true inliers from outliers in challenging scenarios. By incorporating multiple criteria for outlier rejection, the algorithm can enhance its robustness and accuracy.

Multi-Stage Refinement: Utilizing a multi-stage refinement process where the algorithm iteratively refines the calibration parameters based on different subsets of feature matches can help improve the overall convergence and accuracy of the calibration results. This iterative refinement approach can help mitigate the impact of outliers and noise in the data.

Could the insights from this work on leveraging line features be applied to other computer vision tasks beyond camera calibration, such as SLAM or 3D reconstruction

The insights from leveraging line features in camera calibration can be applied to other computer vision tasks beyond camera calibration, such as SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) or 3D reconstruction.
In SLAM applications, line features can provide valuable information for robust pose estimation and mapping in dynamic environments. By incorporating line-based constraints and measurements into SLAM algorithms, the system can improve its localization accuracy and robustness, especially in scenarios with limited visual features or challenging lighting conditions.
For 3D reconstruction tasks, the use of line features can enhance the reconstruction quality and accuracy of the generated 3D models. By leveraging the geometric constraints provided by line features, reconstruction algorithms can better estimate the shape and structure of objects in the scene, leading to more detailed and precise 3D reconstructions.
Additionally, in applications like object recognition and scene understanding, line features can serve as discriminative cues for object detection and segmentation. By incorporating line-based features into deep learning models or traditional computer vision algorithms, the system can improve its ability to recognize objects and infer scene semantics based on the geometric properties of lines.
Overall, the insights from utilizing line features in camera calibration can be leveraged to enhance various computer vision tasks, enabling more robust and accurate performance in a wide range of applications.