Image-based navigation in real environments using panoramas

We present a system for virtual navigation in real environments using image-based panorama rendering. Multiple overlapping images are captured using a Point Grey Ladybug camera and a single cube-aligned panorama image is generated for each capture location. Panorama locations are connected in a graph topology and registered with a 2D map for navigation. A real-time image-based viewer renders individual 360-degree panoramas using graphics hardware acceleration. Real-world navigation is performed by traversing the graph and loading new panorama images. The system contains a user-friendly interface and supports standard input and display or a head-mounted display with an inertial tracking device.