Super-Resolution Enhancement of Flash LADAR Range Data

Published

April 30, 2009

Author(s)

Gavin Rosenbush, Tsai H. Hong, Roger D. Eastman

Abstract

Flash LADAR systems are becoming increasingly popular for robotics applications. However, they generally provide a low-resolution range image because of the limited number of pixels available on the focal plane array. In this paper, the application of image super-resolution algorithms to improve the resolution of range data is examined. Super resolution algorithms are compared for their use on range data and the frequency-domain method is selected. Four low resolution range images which are slightly shifted and rotated from the reference image are registered using Fourier transform properties and the super-resolution image is built using nonuniform interpolation. Image super-resolution algorithms are typically rated subjectively based on the perceived visual quality of their results. In this work, quantitative methods for evaluating the performance of these algorithms on range data are developed. Edge detection in the range data is used as a benchmark of the data improvement provided by super resolution. The results show that super-resolution of range data provides the same advantage as image super-resolution, namelyimage fidelity.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 7582

Report Number

7582

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Keywords

evaluation, flash ladar, super-resolution

Citation

Rosenbush, G. , Hong, T. and Eastman, R. (2009), Super-Resolution Enhancement of Flash LADAR Range Data, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (Accessed October 10, 2025)