Calibrating a multi-camera system for 3D modelling

We describe a simple and novel way for calibrating the position and internal camera parameters of a camera viewing a scene with no prior knowledge of the camera being necessary. Only two views of a simple planar grid of spots are used to accurately determine the relative position of each camera in a multiple camera system. A multiple camera system is necessary for modelling dynamic objects (such as people). When the shape of the object is continually changing a large number of images must be taken simultaneously. The multiple camera system is also an important research tool allowing surface generation algorithms to be investigated under known accuracy in the camera positions. We have evaluated our algorithm's performance using simulations to determine the limits on the accuracy of our system and have demonstrated the performance in practice by producing 3D models from a four camera system.