Tube measurement based on stereo-vision: a review

Many advances have been made in stereo-vision-based tube measurement. This approach is characterised by its accuracy, level of automation, non-contact nature, reliability, simplicity of operation and speed. Many studies have indicated that multi-stereo-vision technology can solve the occlusion problem and be used to efficiently and accurately measure complicated tubes. Increasing demand for fast and accurate quality control of tubes has significantly improved the confidence of users of this technology. The purpose of this paper is to review the research papers published in the tube measurement based on stereo-vision research area. Following a detailed introduction, this paper first discusses the measurement problem and requirements and then reviews the current state of academic research on the key techniques, including three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction, parameter calculation and accuracy verification. This is followed by a summary and conclusion. This paper’s aim is to help interested researchers find the suitable and accurate 3D reconstruction method of different kinds of tubes in the literature and set up a tube measurement system quickly.