Error analysis of 3D shape construction from structured lighting

In this paper, we present a detailed model and analysis of several error sources and thier effects on measuring three-dimensional (3D) surface properties using the structured lighting technique. The analysis is based on a general system configuration and identifies three types of error surces-system modeling error, image processing error and experimental error. Absolute and relative error bounds in obtaining 3D surface orientation and curvature measurements using structured lighting are derived in terms of the system parameters and likely error sources. In addition to the quantization error, other likely error sources in system modeling and experimental setup are also considered. Even though our analysis is on structured lighting, the results are readily applicable to other triangulation-based techniques such as stereopsis. Finally, our analysis focuses on error in inferring surface orientation and principal surface curvature. Such analyses, to our knowledge, have never been attempted before.