SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL LOCATION AND ORIENTATION OF IDENTIFICATION MARKERS

摘要

A three-dimensional tracking system comprises tracking markers having at least one undemarcated pattern composed of a plurality of contrasting portions arranged in a rotationally asymmetric pattern, a tracker for obtaining image information about the markers, a database with geometric information describing patterns on the markers; and a controller for receiving and processing the image information about the markers from the tracker, accessing the database to retrieve the geometric information, and comparing the image information to the geometric information. At least one of the contrasting portions on a marker may have a perimeter that has a mathematically describable curved section that may comprise a conic section. More than one pattern may be employed on a marker, one pattern being used to identify the marker, including for example an ellipse or a circle. The patterns may be on pattern tags attached to the markers and the markers may have a three-dimensionally shaped surface.