US 12,456,215 B2
Spacecraft system for generating a 3-D map of an object in near real-time under non-ideal lighting condititons
Michael Klug, Redondo Beach, CA (US); Joseph Vermeersch, Hermosa Beach, CA (US); Justin Pank, El Segundo, CA (US); Scott Plantenga, El Segundo, CA (US); Brayamh Lopez, El Segundo, CA (US); Scott Dow, El Segundo, CA (US); and Adriel Bustamante, Jurupa Valley, CA (US)
Filed by Falcon Exodynamics, Inc., El Segundo, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 29, 2025, as Appl. No. 19/040,133.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/551,358, filed on Feb. 8, 2024.
Prior Publication US 2025/0259324 A1, Aug. 14, 2025
Int. Cl. G06T 7/579 (2017.01); B64G 1/66 (2006.01); H04N 23/20 (2023.01); H04N 23/695 (2023.01); H04N 23/74 (2023.01)
CPC G06T 7/579 (2017.01) [B64G 1/66 (2013.01); H04N 23/20 (2023.01); H04N 23/695 (2023.01); H04N 23/74 (2023.01); G06T 2207/10032 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for generating a 3D image map of an object, comprising:
a high-resolution camera within a spacecraft configured to capture plurality of overlapping images of the object from a plurality of positions about the object;
an unstructured light source within the spacecraft for illuminating the object with light not having a specific pattern or arrangement to capture the plurality of overlapping images of the object; and
image processing circuitry within the spacecraft configured to process the plurality of overlapping images of the object and generate a 3D image map of the of the object responsive to the plurality of overlapping images of the object.