Camera and Laser Line Calibration for 3D Scanning

Accurate 3D scanning and surface measurement rely heavily on the precise alignment of optical hardware. Understanding how cameras and laser line projectors interact is the key to unlocking high-resolution 3D topography reconstruction. In this text-only course, you will transition from understanding basic image formation to implementing calibration algorithms that map 2D pixels to 3D real-world coordinates, laying a solid foundation for computer vision and optical metrology projects. What you'll learn: - Understand the foundational geometry of camera models, lens distortion, and laser triangulation - Apply affine transformations and homographies to map 2D image coordinates to 3D space - Calculate camera intrinsic and extrinsic parameters using standard calibration targets - Calibrate a laser plane relative to a camera coordinate system using robust estimation techniques - Analyze image features to extract laser line centers with sub-pixel accuracy - Reconstruct 3D surface topography from raw calibration data and image scans You will start with core mathematical concepts and coordinate systems before moving step-by-step through calibration procedures and practical data analysis. The lessons use clear, written explanations and code-based walkthroughs to ensure you can apply these concepts to real-world optical setups. This course is designed for beginners in computer vision, robotics, or optical engineering with no prior experience in 3D scanning. Start reading today to master the core principles of 3D optical calibration.