3-D SURFACE RECONSTRUCTION USING A POLARIZATION STATE ANALYSIS

Analysing the polarization state of reflected beams in a vision system provides essential informations concerning the observed surface orien tations. In this paper, we present an original 3-D surface reconstruct ion method based on this principle. The polarimetric characterization of reflected beams in two ste reoscopic images enables the determinati on, for every surface element of the analysed scene, of a normal vecto r to this surface element. In this aim, a specific stereoscopic image acquisition device including optical processors has been defined. The normal vectors to a surface elements are then involved in a specific i ntegration process which yields the complete 3-D surface reconstructio n. Results of this global treatment for real scenes are shown and disc ussed.