US Patent:
20120070071, Mar 22, 2012
Inventors:
Arturo L. Rankin - Santa Clarita CA, US
Larry H. Matthies - Northridge CA, US
Paolo Bellutta - La Crescenta CA, US
Assignee:
California Institute of Technology - Pasadena CA
International Classification:
G06K 9/00
Abstract:
Systems and methods are disclosed that include automated machine vision that can utilize images of scenes captured by a 3D imaging system configured to image light within the visible light spectrum to detect water. One embodiment includes autonomously detecting water bodies within a scene including capturing at least one 3D image of a scene using a sensor system configured to detect visible light and to measure distance from points within the scene to the sensor system, and detecting water within the scene using a processor configured to detect regions within each of the at least one 3D images that possess at least one characteristic indicative of the presence of water.