Three-dimensional object recognition by fourier transform profilometry

An automatic method for three-dimensional (3-D) shape recognition is proposed. It combines the Fourier transform profilometry technique with a real-time recognition setup such as the joint transform correlator (JTC). A grating is projected onto the object surface resulting in a distorted grating pattern. Since this pattern carries information about the depth and the shape of the object, their comparison provides a method for recognizing 3-D objects in real time. A two-cycle JTC is used for this purpose. Experimental results demonstrate the theory and show the utility of the new proposed method.