PSD sensor array design for the 3D measurement of moving objects

Abstract

Perceiving a 3D moving target is important for automated machines including robots in a factory. Although stereovision or ultrasonic ranging is often employed for the purpose, the former requires high-cost systems, and the latter suffers from low-resolution. In this paper, we propose a PSD sensor array to acquire the 3D profile of an object conveyed by a belt. Rectangular parallelepiped target objects at random positions and orientations are assumed. Nine PSD sensors are configured in a <TEX>$3{\times}3$</TEX> array above the belt, and fired in a sequence so that cross-talk can be avoided. Time gaps among sensor readings are compensated to get a result that is obtainable when sensors' measurements are made simultaneously along a sensing line. The system designed is tested with various objects in experiments.