Wave Surface Identification Based on Stereo Vision and Wave Theory: an Initial Attempt

Abstract

Wave height is the most basic element of wave information, and accurate measurement of wave height plays a crucial role in both understanding wave theory and verifying numerical models. In this paper, an improved optical measurement system was proposed based on the principle of binocular stereo vision, which breaks through the limitations of traditional measurement equipment such as wave gauges and other single-point measurements, and improves the commonly used optical measurement method that relies solely on images by involving water wave theory into the data post-processing procedure. By identifying and reconstructing the unidirectional regular wave surface in a towing tank and comparing the results with the wave gauges and theoretical incoming wave parameters for validation, the results show that the measurement system has an error of about 1% in the measurement of a wide area. In the end of the paper, a preliminary attempt is made on the irregular wave surface identification.