Multi-sensor registration method based on a composite standard artefact

Abstract

Registration is a critical and essential procedure in any multi-sensor dimensional measuring systems. Most of the traditional registration methods are achieved by measuring a common standard by multiple sensors; however, it is difficult to ensure that heterogeneous sensors measure the same feature points. In this study, a new multi-sensor registration method based on a composite standard artefact is proposed. The base of the standard artefact is equipped with a standard sphere and a standard chrome-circle for registering the visual sensor (VS) and the tactile probe sensor (TPS) on a multi-sensor dimensional measuring machine. The VS and TPS measure the standard chrome-circle and the standard sphere, respectively. The coordinate system conversion parameters between the two sensors were solved based on the constant distance between the standard chrome-circle centre and the standard sphere centre. Both the simulations and experiments demonstrate higher precision and stability of the proposed method for the registration of multiple heterogeneous sensors in high-precision dimensional measurement systems. The root mean square errors of the registration experiments in X and Y -directions are 6μm and 4μm, respectively. The combined standard uncertainties are uc(tx)=1.6μm and uc(ty)=1.2μm.