Computer Science - The City College of New York
CSC I6716 - Fall 2007  3D Computer Vision and Video Computing

Assignment 3
Camera Models and Camera Clibration ( Deadline: Oct 23  before class)
(Those marked with * are optional for extra credits)


Note:  All the writings must be hard copies in print. Do write your **names** and IDs (last four digits) in your submissions.


1   (Camera Models- 30 points)  Prove that the vector from the viewpoint of a pinhole camera to the vanishing point (in the image plane) of a set of 3D parallel lines is parallel to the direction of the parallel lines.

Hint: You can either use geometric reasoning or algebraic calculation.

If you choose to use geometric reasoning, you can use the fact that the projection of a 3D line in space is the intersection of its “interpretation plane” with the image plane.  Here the interpretation plane (IP) is a plane passing through the 3D line and the center of projection (viewpoint) of the camera.  Also, the interpretation planes of two parallel lines intersect in a line passing through the viewpoint, and the intersection line is parallel to the parallel lines.

If you select to use algebraic calculation, you may use the parametric representation of a 3D line: P = P0 +tV, where P= (X,Y,Z)T is any point on the line (here  T denote for transpose),   P0 = (X0,Y0,Z0)T is a given fixed point on the line, vector V = (a,b,c)T represents the direction of the line, and t is the scalar parameter that controls the distance (with sign) between P and P0.

2. (Camera Models- 30 points) Show that relation between any image point (xim, yim)T of a plane (in the form of (x1,x2,x3)T in projective space ) and its corresponding point (Xw, Yw, Zw)T on the plane in 3D space can be represented by a 3x3 matrix. You should start from the general form of the camera model (x1,x2,x3)T = MintMext (Xw, Yw, Zw, 1)T, where the image center (ox, oy), the focal length f, the scaling factors( sx and sy),  the rotation matrix R and the translation vector T are all unknown. Note that in the course slides, I used a simplified model by assuming ox and oy are known and sx = sy =1 so you cannot directly copy those equations.  You can either use a special plane Zw = 0 or a general plane nx Xw + ny Yw + Zw  = d.

3.  (Calibration- 40 points +20 extra points)  Prove the Orthocenter Theorem by geometric arguments: Let T be the triangle on the image plane defined by the three vanishing points of three mutually orthogonal sets of parallel lines in space. Then the image center is the orthocenter of the triangle T (i.e., the common intersection of the three altitudes.
(1)    Basic proof: use the result of Question 1, assuming the aspect ratio of the camera is 1. (40 points)
(2)    *If you do not know the aspect ratio and the focal length of the camera, can you still find the image center using the Orthocenter Theorem? Show why or why not. (10 points)
(3)    *Can you estimate aspect ratio and the image center all together using the Orthocenter Theorem? Please give your solution. Could you further estimate the focal length of the camera based on the fact that  the three sets of parallel lines are orthogonal to each other? (10 points)