lasertriangulation

Laser triangulation is a non-contact optical measurement technique used to determine the distance to an object or to measure its shape. It works by projecting a laser beam onto the surface of the object. A camera is positioned at a known offset angle relative to the laser projector. When the laser beam strikes the object's surface, it creates a point of light. The camera captures this point of light. Due to the known angles and distances between the laser and the camera, the position of the point of light in the camera's image is directly related to the distance of the object's surface from the sensor.

The principle relies on basic trigonometry. Imagine a triangle formed by the laser emitter, the point on the object, and the camera's optical center. The angle of the laser beam and the angle from the object to the camera are known. By measuring the position of the laser spot in the camera's image, the angle subtended by the object-to-camera distance within the triangle can be determined. Using the known distance between the laser and the camera (the base of the triangle) and the measured angles, the distance to the object can be calculated.

This method is widely used in various applications, including 3D scanning, profile measurement, automated inspection, and robotics. It offers high accuracy and can be used on a wide range of materials. Variations of laser triangulation include single-point triangulation and triangulation with a laser line, which allows for the measurement of entire profiles in a single shot. The resolution and accuracy depend on factors such as the laser's wavelength, the camera's resolution, and the geometric setup of the system.