Coordinate Metrology and the Proposed E57.02 Static Pose Determination Standard

Abstract

This article presents the proposed ASTM standard E57.02, “Test Method for Evaluating the Performance of Systems that Measure Static, Six Degrees of Freedom, Pose” (ASTM WK31638). We will explain why this standard should be considered important by coordinate metrologists. The stated purpose of the standard is to provide metrics and procedures to evaluate how well a noncontact 3D imaging system is able to determine an object’s pose relative to the 3D imaging system. Pose estimation is particularly important for 3D imaging systems that can be moved during the process of generating a digital model of a surface, such as arm-mounted 3D imaging systems. The quality of the digital surface model generated by merging multiple depth maps depends on how well the 3D imaging system, or systems, are able to determine their pose during acquisition. We provide a summary of the document to date, the proposed test methods, and the current status of the proposed standard. We present an example to show how the test method would be used, then draw some conclusions before briefly describing what remains to be done with regard to this test method.