| 摘要 |
A method and apparatus for measuring the total volume of a group of elongated objects, such as a load of logs on a transport vehicle, is described. Each end of the load is imaged on photographic film with two cameras whose geometric lens characteristics, separation distance, and focal lengths are known. The imaging can be done before, during or after the unloading of the logs from the vehicle. A specially modified stereographic projector mounting all four film images and using digital output devices is then used to transfer the information, permanently stored on the images, to a digital computer. The computer is used to transform the dimensions of the three dimensional stereo image produced by the stereographic projector to the real world dimensions in which the photographic images were originally produced. The computer, in turn, calculates the length of each log, the cross sectional area of the wood (excluding bark) at each end of each log, the volume of wood on the load, etc. and then prepares a report containing the volumetric and other pertinent data. The method is equally applicable whether the objects being measured are exposed or hidden along their length. Note the wood in natural logs is hidden along the length by the bark. The scope of the invention extends far beyond this specific application to the lumber industry, and several such pontential applications are discussed.
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