Generating an interpretation tree from a CAD model for 3D-object recognition in bin-picking tasks

Abstract

This article describes a method to generate 3D-object recognition algorithms from a geometrical model for bin-picking tasks. Given a 3D solid model of an object, we first generate apparent shapes of an object under various viewer directions. Those apparent shapes are then classified into groups (representative attitudes) based on dominant visible faces and other features. Based on the grouping, recognition algorithms are generated in the form of an interpretation tree. The interpretation tree consists of two parts: the first part for classifying a target region in an image into one of the shape groups, and the second part for determining the precise attitude of the object within that group. We have developed a set of rules to find out what appropriate features are to be used in what order to generate an efficient and reliable interpretation tree. Features used in the interpretation tree include inertia of a region, relationship to the neighboring regions, position and orientation of edges, and extended Gaussian images. This method has been applied in a task for bin-picking objects that include both planar and cylindrical surfaces. As sensory data, we have used surface orientations from photometric stereo, depth from binocular stereo using oriented-region matching, and edges from an intensity image.