From: "Andrew Longhorn (Vac Scholar)" Subject: TECH: high resolution 3D imaging Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 23:01:06 CST I thought I would ask this, Does anyone know if much progress/work/theorising has been done on 3D depth mapping? What I am trying to get a phrase for is some sort of system that you point at something and it returns a 2d map of z-values corresponding to the distance from the sensor of the first thing it hits. (sort of like a 2d version of those fish sensor things they use in fishing), y'know, they point it downwards beneath the boat and get something like: . . , , .. . . . .......... .... ...... . . where: , - is possible fish schools. Anyway, what I need is some system for determining the distance to objects within about a 100 degree cone (or sq. base pyramid) eminating from the sensor location: X <- sensor / \ / \ / \ / \ <- sensor range and area / ....... \ /.. ..\ .. .. ......... Hopefully returning a 2d grid with the distance information. so if you point it down at a table with a block on it you may get something like: 11 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 10 11 11 10 10 10 9 6 10 10 10 11 11 10 10 6 5 6 6 10 10 11 11 10 6 6 5 6 6 10 10 11 <- the cube is closer to the sensor than 11 10 10 6 5 6 6 6 10 11 the table, so it registers a lower value 11 10 10 6 5 6 6 10 10 11 11 10 10 10 5 10 10 10 10 11 11 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 10 11 11 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 10 11 ^ ^ ^ -- these would probably be caused by the point-cone nature of the sensor. Anyway, you all get what I mean. I'd imagine this sort of thing would be really helpful in robot/computer vision systems, and other areas. ANY leads on technology like this, ranging from heresay/legend to prices and distributors, would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Andrew andrewl@cs.anu.edu.au