A single-camera method for three-dimensional video imaging

We describe a novel method for recovering the three-dimensional (3D) point geometry of an object from images acquired with a single-camera. Typically, multiple cameras are used to record 3D geometry. Occasionally, however, there is a need to record 3D geometry when the use of multiple cameras is either too costly or impractical. The algorithm described here uses single-camera images and requires in addition that each marker on the object be linked to at least one other marker by a known distance. The linkage distances are used to recover information about the third dimension that would otherwise be lost in single-camera two-dimensional images. The utilities of the method are its low-cost, simplicity, and ease of calibration and implementation. We were able to estimate 3D distances and positions as accurately as with a commercially available multi-camera 3D system. This method may be useful in pilot studies to determine whether 3D imaging systems are required, or, it can serve as a low-cost alternative to multi-camera systems. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.