Multi camera triggering and synchronization issue : case study

The problem of multi-camera system, in which the synchronization was a priority issue, has been raised in the beginning of the 20th century. It was caused by significant growth of application, in which computer vision technology realized in real-time, mode play the major role. Lately multi-camera synchronization problem is related to threedimensional reconstruction. It is estimated that 3D imaging market was worth 16.6 billion USD by 2020 year (in 2015 this market was worth only 4.9 billion USD). This constitute raise at 27.64% calculated as CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) indicator. However, presently there exists many issues disturbing in develop full functional 3D imaging systems wherein robust and mapping accuracy are not related with the system total price. Multi-camera imaging (MCI) technology is a perfect candidate to obtain 3D imaging, moreover the systems contains this type of solution already existed but they possess limitation. First of all, MCI are perfect for reconstruction static objects. This paper describes the common known problem concerning multi-camera system in which correlation between independently taken images from the multiple viewpoints must be extremely high in the time domain. However, some kinds of application do not require perfect snapshot synchronization but time delay must be exactly known. Generally, camera synchronicity issue can be achieved through hardware or software solution. Hardware triggering usually ensures high synchronicity precision and is robust but it is always associated with expensiveness. In turn of software triggering the application architecture in hardware point of view are simpler and inexpensive although they are uncertainty as hardware solution. Additionally, in the paper author's main attention was focused on possibility of synchronization pentadruple cameras system with GigE interface with hardware and software triggering and estimation software solution average time delay in comparison with hardware triggering.

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Opracowanie ze środków MNiSW w ramach umowy 812/P-DUN/2016 na działalność upowszechniającą naukę.