Patent Description:
In recent years, industrial robots that capture an image of an object using a camera or the like, determine the position of a member in accordance with the imaging results, and then perform operations such as grasping or assembling the object with an arm have become widespread. Here, for example, in an assembly factory or the like, a large number of members of one kind are often transported or the like while packed in a box-shaped member called a container. In order to perform an operation such as lifting members contained in a container with an arm of an industrial robot, it is necessary to perform control so that the arm does not touch the edge of the container.

For example, Patent Literature <NUM> discloses that a plurality of box-shaped arms is imaged from information to acquire the whole image and detect the edge portion of a box-shaped workpiece, and the three-dimensional shape of a plurality of box-shaped workpieces is measured as a point group by a distance sensor. In the method, point group information on measurement points obtained by the distance sensor is extracted, and the position and posture of each box-shaped workpiece are recognized from its three-dimensional shape on the basis of the point group information. <NPL>) discloses a processing pipeline that detects and localizes boxes and pallets in RGB-D images. The method is based on edges in both the color image and the depth image and uses a RANSAC approach for reliably localizing the detected containers.

Here, a container which is an object having members contained therein generally has a thin edge. In a case where the edge is thin, it is difficult to acquire three-dimensional point group information using the distance sensor as disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM> for reasons of reflection of irradiation light not being likely to be obtained at the edge of a box-shaped workpiece. For example, when an industrial robot fails to recognize a container, inconvenience such as the arm of the industrial robot touching the edge of the container may occur.

Several aspects of the present invention were contrived in view of the aforementioned problem, and one objective of the invention is to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that make it possible to recognize a three-dimensional position/posture with a high degree of accuracy.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing device adapted to recognize the three-dimensional position and posture of an object, including: a first input unit that receives an input of three-dimensional model information for generating a three-dimensional model of an object to be recognized; a template generation unit that generates a two-dimensional template which shows a shape of an upper edge of the object to be recognized on the basis of the three-dimensional model information, by extracting feature points of the upper edge from the three-dimensional model information of the object to be recognized; a coordinate relationship identification unit that generates coordinate relationship information indicating a relationship between three-dimensional coordinates of the three-dimensional model and two-dimensional coordinates when the three-dimensional model is imaged; a second input unit that receives an input of a captured image obtained by capturing an image of the object to be recognized; a matching unit that matches the captured image with the two-dimensional template; and a recognition unit that recognizes a three-dimensional position and posture of the object to be recognized by referencing the coordinate relationship information with respect to the object to be recognized in the captured image which is detected according to two-dimensional matching results of the matching unit.

In the configuration, a two-dimensional template is generated, and the three-dimensional position and posture of an object to be recognized is detected in accordance with matching of a captured image with the two-dimensional template. Although it is difficult to measure the three-dimensional coordinates of an object having a small width or an object formed of a specular light-reflective material, the three-dimensional position and posture of an object to be recognized are detected on the basis of a matching process in two dimensions, and thus it is possible to recognize the posture/position of an object to be recognized with a high degree of accuracy. Thereby, for example, in a case where an information processing device according to the configuration is applied to the recognition of the posture/position of the container which is an object to be recognized by an industrial robot having an arm, it is possible to prevent a situation such as damage to the robot arm and/or the container which is associated with the collision of the robot arm with the container.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method for recognizing the three-dimensional position and posture of an object, the method causing an information processing device to perform: a process of receiving an input of three-dimensional model information for generating a three-dimensional model of an object to be recognized; a process of generating a two-dimensional template which shows a shape of an upper edge of the object to be recognized on the basis of three-dimensional model by extracting feature points of the upper edge from the three-dimensional model information of the object to be recognized; a process of generating coordinate relationship information indicating a relationship between three-dimensional coordinates of the three-dimensional model and two-dimensional coordinates when the three-dimensional model is imaged; a process of receiving an input of a captured image obtained by capturing an image of the object to be recognized; a process of matching the captured image with the two-dimensional template; and a process of recognizing a three-dimensional position and posture of the object to be recognized by referencing the coordinate relationship information with respect to the object to be recognized in the captured image which is detected according to two-dimensional matching results.

In the configuration, a two-dimensional template is generated, and the three-dimensional position and posture of an object to be recognized is detected in accordance with matching of a captured image with the two-dimensional template. Although it is difficult to measure the three-dimensional coordinates of an object having a small width or an object formed of a specular light-reflective material, the three-dimensional position and posture of an object to be recognized are detected on the basis of a matching process in two dimensions, and thus it is possible to recognize the posture/position of an object to be recognized with a high degree of accuracy. Thereby, for example, in a case where the information processing method according to the configuration is applied to the recognition of the posture/position of the container which is an object to be recognized by an industrial robot having an arm, it is possible to prevent a situation such as damage to the robot arm and/or the container which is associated with the collision of the robot arm with the container.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by an information processing device, cause the information processing device to carry out the method of the aspect above.

In the configuration, a two-dimensional template is generated, and the three-dimensional position and posture of an object to be recognized is detected in accordance with matching of a captured image with the two-dimensional template. Although it is difficult to measure the three-dimensional coordinates of an object having a small width or an object formed of a specular light-reflective material, the three-dimensional position and posture of an object to be recognized are detected on the basis of a matching process in two dimensions, and thus it is possible to recognize the posture/position of an object to be recognized with a high degree of accuracy. Thereby, for example, in a case where the program according to the configuration is applied to the recognition of the posture/position of the container which is an object to be recognized by an industrial robot having an arm, it is possible to prevent a situation such as damage to the robot arm and/or the container which is associated with the collision of the robot arm with the container.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, "unit," "means," "device," and "system" do not simply mean physical means, and the functions of "unit," "means," "device," and "system" may be realized by software. In addition, the function of each one of "unit," "means," " device," and "system" may be realized by two or more physical means or devices, and the functions of each two or more of "units," "means," "device," and "system" may be realized by one physical means of device.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Incidentally, the embodiment to be described below is just for illustration, and is not intended to exclude applications of various modifications or techniques which are not explicitly specified below. That is, the present invention can be carried out in various modified forms without departing from the scope of the invention, as long as the modified forms are within the scope of the appended claims. In addition, in the following description of the drawings, the same or similar portions are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals and signs. The drawings are schematic illustrations, and the dimensions, ratios and the like shown in the drawings do not necessarily match those in reality. There may also be portions in which mutual dimensional relationships or ratios are shown differently between the drawings.

First, the whole outline according to the embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. An information processing device according to the present embodiment can be used for, for example, recognizing the three-dimensional position/posture of a container or the like that contains members which are objects to be operated by an industrial robot having an arm. In a case where the three-dimensional position/posture of the container can be recognized with a high degree of accuracy, an industrial robot can control its arm not to collide with the container, and thus it is possible to prevent damage due to a collision of the arm and/or the container. Meanwhile, although objects to be recognized of which the three-dimensional positions/postures are recognized by the information processing device according to the embodiment are not limited to the container, a description will be given below with a focus on the container.

The information processing device generates a two-dimensional template which shows the shape of the upper edge of the container in advance, and then detects the upper edge of the container by performing two-dimensional template matching on a two-dimensional image including the container captured by a camera rather than three-dimensional information based on a distance sensor or the like. As will be described below, processing of the information processing device according to the present embodiment includes a process of generating a two-dimensional template and a process of recognizing a three-dimensional position/posture using the generated two-dimensional template. Hereinafter, the two processes will be described.

Hereinafter, a process of generating a two-dimensional template will be described with reference to <FIG>. The information processing device first receives an input of three-dimensional CAD information relating to a three-dimensional model of the container, and analyzes the CAD information. Thereby, by specifying where the upper edge of the three-dimensional model of the container is as shown in <FIG>, and then extracting feature points of the upper edge or the like, a two-dimensional template image which is a binarized two-dimensional image showing the shape of the upper edge of the three-dimensional model of the container, as shown in <FIG>, is generated. The two-dimensional template image generated in this case is equivalent to an upper edge image obtained by capturing an image of the upper edge of the three-dimensional model of the container when a virtual camera and the three-dimensional model of the container are disposed within a virtual space.

In addition, the information processing device extracts feature points including portions other than the upper edge from the three-dimensional model of the container, and then specifies where these feature points are located in a two-dimensional image captured from the virtual camera disposed within the virtual space. Thereby, a correspondence relation between three-dimensional coordinates of the three-dimensional model of the container and two-dimensional coordinates on the two-dimensional image captured by the virtual camera is stored. Meanwhile, the correspondence relation is equivalent to coordinate relationship information to be described later.

Meanwhile, in <FIG>, a square container is shown, but there is no limitation thereto, and a round container, a container having partitions therein, or the like can also be considered as a target for processing.

Next, processing of a two-dimensional captured image captured by a camera or the like in the actual environment will be described with reference to <FIG>. In a case where an input of a captured image as shown in <FIG> is received from a camera, the information processing device transforms the captured image into a luminance image (or, the input may also be used as a luminance image), and then performs matching with a two-dimensional template generated in advance as shown in <FIG>. Thereby, the information processing device can recognize at which position on the captured image (x, y coordinates) and at what rotation angle a container equivalent to a three-dimensional model from which the two-dimensional template is generated is disposed. Further, the information processing device specifies the positions of the feature points on the captured image with the matched two-dimensional template as a reference. The three-dimensional position/posture of the container is recognized by transforming these positions of feature points using the above-described coordinate relationship information.

Hereinafter, an operation configuration example of an information processing device <NUM> according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. The information processing device <NUM> generally includes a template generation unit <NUM>, a database (DB) <NUM>, and a recognition unit <NUM>. Meanwhile, each of these configurations may be realized as a program operating on a processor, or may be realized as hardware such as one or a plurality of semiconductors for exclusive use. In addition, the information processing device <NUM> may also be realized as one computer or the like physically, or may be realized as a plurality of computers or the like physically. For example, the template generation unit <NUM> and the recognition unit <NUM> can be realized by separate computers. Operations of a hardware configuration or a program in a case where the template generation unit <NUM> or the recognition unit <NUM> is realized as a program will be described later with reference to <FIG>.

The template generation unit <NUM> includes a model input unit <NUM>, a camera parameter input unit <NUM>, an upper edge image generation unit <NUM>, a coordinate relationship information generation unit <NUM>, and an output unit <NUM>.

The model input unit <NUM> receives an input of a three-dimensional CAD model of the container. Alternatively, each dimension value of the container may be input instead of the three-dimensional CAD model. Here, the model input unit <NUM> is an example of a "first input unit" of the present invention. The three-dimensional CAD model and each dimension value of the container are an example of "three-dimensional model information" of the present invention. Meanwhile, a CAD model of the container in which an input is received by the model input unit <NUM> or a model of the container which is generated from the dimension values is referred to as a "three-dimensional container model" collectively.

The camera parameter input unit <NUM> receives an input of camera parameters relating to a virtual camera that captures an image of three-dimensional container model in a virtual space in which the three-dimensional container model is disposed. The camera parameters can include information such as the relative position, direction, or angle of view of the virtual camera for the three-dimensional container model. In this case, the camera parameters may be set in accordance with the position, direction or the like of an actual environment camera which is disposed in order to capture a luminance image used when the recognition unit <NUM> recognizes the three-dimensional position/posture of the container. As described above, the information processing device <NUM> generates a two-dimensional template <NUM> by transforming an upper edge image which is a result obtained by capturing an image of the upper edge of the three-dimensional container model using the virtual camera. The information processing device <NUM> matches a captured image (equivalent to a luminance image to be described later) in the actual environment with the two-dimensional template <NUM> thereon. In a case where the position, angle or the like of the virtual camera used when the two-dimensional template <NUM> is generated and the position, angle or the like of a camera when a captured image in the actual environment is captured are made to substantially coincide with each other, the captured image and the two-dimensional template can be matched using the two-dimensional template generated by the template generation unit <NUM> as it is. The relative position or posture of a camera to a container in the actual environment can be calculated by placing markers with known spacing on a plane where the container is installed, and recognizing the markers on an image captured by an actual environment camera. By using the calculated relative position/posture of the actual environment camera and the three-dimensional model of the container, it is possible to create an image obtained by projecting any plane of a space including the container to the camera.

Meanwhile, in a case where the position, direction or the like of the virtual camera (camera parameters) used when the two-dimensional template <NUM> is generated is set to be different from the position or direction of the camera in the actual environment, the luminance image and/or the two-dimensional template <NUM> which is input to the recognition unit <NUM> may be transformed on the basis of relative information on the position of the virtual camera used for the template generation unit <NUM> to generate the two-dimensional template <NUM> and the position or angle of the camera used to capture the luminance image which is input to the recognition unit <NUM>. Processing in a case where the luminance image and/or the two-dimensional template <NUM> is transformed in accordance with the relative relation of the camera will be described later with reference to <FIG>.

The upper edge image generation unit <NUM> generates an image equivalent to the upper edge of the container (hereinafter referred to as an "upper edge image") in a case where an image of the three-dimensional container model is captured in a virtual space by the virtual camera of which the position or the like is set by camera parameters. More specifically, the upper edge image generation unit <NUM> first specifies where the upper edge of the three-dimensional container model is according to the normal direction and height of a mesh constituting the three-dimensional container model. For example, among meshes constituting the three-dimensional container model, a portion in which the normal line is directed substantially in a vertical direction (directed at least in an upward direction rather than in a horizontal direction), and which is higher than surrounding meshes can be specified as an upper edge. After the upper edge is specified, the upper edge image generation unit <NUM> generates an upper edge image which is assumed to be generated in a case where an image of the upper edge is captured from the virtual camera of which the position or the like is specified by camera parameters. An example of generation of the upper edge image is as shown in <FIG>. The upper edge image generation unit <NUM> further generates the two-dimensional template <NUM> for specifying the upper edge from the two-dimensional image captured in the actual environment by performing binarization and edge extraction on the upper edge image according to luminance. Meanwhile, the two-dimensional template <NUM> may not necessarily have binarization and edge extraction performed thereon, but it is possible to achieve a decrease in the amount of information of the two-dimensional template <NUM> by performing such a process and a reduction in the amount of calculation in a matching process using this. Here, the upper edge image generation unit <NUM> is an example of "template generation unit" of the present invention.

Meanwhile, the upper edge image generation unit <NUM> may transform the two-dimensional template <NUM> or its original upper edge image in accordance with the direction of the virtual camera specified by camera parameters and/or the direction of the camera used to capture the luminance image in the actual environment.

The coordinate relationship information generation unit <NUM> extracts a plurality of feature points from the three-dimensional container model, and then specifies a relationship between three-dimensional coordinates in the virtual space and two-dimensional coordinates on the upper edge image in a case where an image of each of the plurality of feature points of the three-dimensional container model is captured by the virtual camera of which the position or the like is specified by camera parameters. The coordinate relationship information generation unit <NUM> generates coordinate relationship information <NUM> indicating the specified relationship (relationship between three-dimensional coordinates and two-dimensional coordinates of each feature point).

The output unit <NUM> outputs the two-dimensional template <NUM> generated by the upper edge image generation unit <NUM> and the coordinate relationship information <NUM> generated by the coordinate relationship information generation unit <NUM>, as the DB <NUM>, to any storage medium.

The recognition unit <NUM> includes a luminance image input unit <NUM>, a template matching unit <NUM>, a feature point coordinate calculation unit <NUM>, a three-dimensional position/posture calculation unit <NUM>, and an output unit <NUM>.

The luminance image input unit <NUM> receives an input of a luminance image obtained by capturing an image of a container of which the three-dimensional position/posture is desired to be specified in the actual environment. Here, the luminance image input unit <NUM> is an example of a "second input unit" of the present invention.

The template matching unit <NUM> specifies a position equivalent to the upper edge of the container in the luminance image by performing matching with the two-dimensional template <NUM> on the luminance image which is input from the luminance image input unit <NUM>. Thereby, it is possible to specify at which position (x, y) and at what angle the upper edge of the container is disposed in the luminance image. Meanwhile, in this case, the template matching unit <NUM> may perform detailed alignment through an iterative closest point (ICP) process after template matching. Here, the template matching unit <NUM> is an example of a "matching unit" of the present invention.

The feature point coordinate calculation unit <NUM> specifies the positions (coordinates) of the feature points of the container in the luminance image with the position and angle of the upper edge of the container specified by the template matching unit <NUM> as a reference.

The three-dimensional position/posture calculation unit <NUM> obtains the three-dimensional coordinates of each feature point of the container on the basis of the coordinates of the feature points calculated by the feature point coordinate calculation unit <NUM> and the coordinate relationship information <NUM>. Thereby, the three-dimensional position/posture calculation unit <NUM> can recognize the position and posture of the container in the real space which is captured in the luminance image. Here, the three-dimensional position/posture calculation unit <NUM> is an example of a "recognition unit" of the present invention.

The output unit <NUM> outputs three-dimensional position/posture information indicating the position and posture of the container calculated by the three-dimensional position/posture calculation unit <NUM>. For example, in a case where an industrial robot receives an input of the three-dimensional position/posture information, the position and posture of the container is specified in accordance with the information, and then members placed inside the container can be picked up or the like while control is performed so that its arm does not collide with the container.

Subsequently, a flow of processing the information processing device <NUM> according to Configuration Example <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> and <FIG> are flow charts illustrating a flow of processing of the information processing device <NUM>.

Meanwhile, processing steps to be described later may be executed any modified order or in parallel unless conflict occurs in processing details. In addition, another step may be added between the processing steps and be executed. Further, a step described as one step for convenience may be executed by division into a plurality of steps, and steps described by division into a plurality of steps for convenience may be executed as one step. In this point, the same is true of a flow chart of <FIG> to be described later.

First, a flow of processing of template generation which is performed by the template generation unit <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The model input unit <NUM> of the template generation unit <NUM> receives an input of the three-dimensional CAD model (S601). As described above, the model input unit <NUM> may receive an input of dimension values of the containers instead of the three-dimensional CAD model. The camera parameter input unit <NUM> receives an input of camera parameters for determining the position, direction, angle of view, or the like of the virtual camera that captures an image of the three-dimensional container model in order to generate the two-dimensional template <NUM>(S603).

The upper edge image generation unit <NUM> first specifies a portion equivalent to an upper edge from the normal direction and height of a mesh constituting the three-dimensional container model with respect to the three-dimensional container model received as an input by the model input unit (S605). As described above, the upper edge image generation unit <NUM> can specify, for example, a portion in which the normal line of a mesh constituting the three-dimensional container model is directed at least in an upward direction rather than in a horizontal direction and which is higher than surrounding meshes as an upper edge.

In addition, the upper edge image generation unit <NUM> generates an upper edge image equivalent to an imaging result in a case where an image of the upper edge of the three-dimensional container model is captured by the virtual camera of which the position or the like is specified by camera parameters (S607).

Further, the upper edge image generation unit <NUM> generates the two-dimensional template <NUM> for detecting the upper edge of the container from the two-dimensional captured image by performing binarization, edge extraction and the like on the upper edge image (S609).

The coordinate relationship information generation unit <NUM> extracts a plurality of feature points from the three-dimensional container model, and then generates the coordinate relationship information <NUM> indicating a relationship between the coordinates of each of the plurality of feature points in a three-dimensional virtual space and the two-dimensional coordinates of the feature point on the upper edge image (S611).

The output unit <NUM> outputs the two-dimensional template <NUM> and the coordinate relationship information <NUM> which are generated in S609 and S611 to any storage medium (S613).

Subsequently, a flow of a recognition process of the three-dimensional position/posture of the container for a luminance image obtained by capturing an image of the container which is performed by the recognition unit <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

First, the luminance image input unit <NUM> receives an input of a luminance image obtained by capturing an image of a container (S701). The template matching unit <NUM> specifies the position and rotation angle of the upper edge of the container within the luminance image by matching the luminance image with the two-dimensional template of the container prepared in advance (S703). Then, the feature point coordinate calculation unit <NUM> calculates the two-dimensional coordinates of the feature point of the container in the luminance image with the upper edge of the container specified by the template matching unit <NUM> as a reference (S705).

The three-dimensional position/posture calculation unit <NUM> generates the three-dimensional coordinates of each feature point by transforming the two-dimensional coordinates of each feature point in the luminance image specified in S705 using the coordinate relationship information <NUM> (S707). Thereby, the three-dimensional position/posture calculation unit <NUM> recognizes the position and posture of the container in the real space which is captured in the luminance image.

The output unit <NUM> outputs position/posture information indicating the calculated position and posture of the container to the outside (S709).

Meanwhile, in the processing described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, a description has been given with a focus on a case in which the imaging position, direction or the like of the virtual camera specified by camera parameters for generating the two-dimensional template from the three-dimensional container model and the imaging position, direction or the like of the camera in the actual environment are made to be substantially coincident with each other, but there is no limitation thereto. For example, in a case where a relative relation between the position, direction or the like of the virtual camera that capture the two-dimensional image and the position, direction or the like of the camera that captures an image of the container in the actual environment is known, transforming and then processing an image on the basis of the relation can also be considered.

For example, capturing an image of the three-dimensional container model from directly above using the virtual camera to generate the two-dimensional template, and then performing a recognition process on the luminance image obtained by capturing an image of the container from a direction other than directly above can also be considered. Processing in this case will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The luminance image input unit <NUM> receives an input of the luminance image obtained by capturing an image of the container (S801). In this case, the luminance image input unit <NUM> transforms the input luminance image in accordance with a relative relation (camera external parameters) between the position, direction and the like of the virtual camera used when the two-dimensional template <NUM> is generated and the position, direction and the like of the camera used to capture the luminance image (S803). As a method of the transformation process, for example, plane projective transformation (homography transformation) or the like can be considered. Here, it is assumed to be transformed into an image in a case where an image of the container is captured from directly above. In addition, the plane projective transformation parameter can be calculated from the virtual camera external parameters.

The template matching unit <NUM> performs matching between the input luminance image after the transformation and the two-dimensional template <NUM> to specify the position and rotation angle of the upper edge of the container within the input image after the transformation (S805). The processes of S807 and S809 are the same as the processes of S707 and S709 described with reference to <FIG>.

Hereinafter, a hardware configuration capable of realizing the information processing device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> schematically illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing device <NUM> according to the present embodiment.

The information processing device <NUM> shown in the example of <FIG> includes a control unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, a communication interface (I/F) unit <NUM>, an input unit <NUM>, and an output unit <NUM>, and each unit can be selected so as to be capable of communicating with each other through a bus line <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> includes a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM) <NUM>, a read only memory (ROM), and the like, and controls each component in accordance with information processing. More specifically, for example, the CPU included in the control unit <NUM> can execute the above-described various processes relating to the template generation unit <NUM> and the recognition unit <NUM> shown in <FIG> by reading a control program <NUM> from the storage unit <NUM> into the RAM <NUM> and executing the control program <NUM>.

The storage unit <NUM> is an auxiliary storage device such as, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), and stores the control program <NUM>, the database (DB)<NUM> and the like which are executed by the control unit <NUM>. In the DB <NUM>, as described above, it is possible to manage the two-dimensional template <NUM>, the coordinate relationship information <NUM>, or the like. Besides managing information such as camera parameters on the DB <NUM> can also be considered.

The control program <NUM> is a program for executing the processing of the information processing device <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>. Particularly, the configurations of the template generation unit <NUM> and the recognition unit <NUM> shown in <FIG> can be realized as the control program <NUM>.

The communication I/F unit <NUM> is, for example, a communication module for communicating with another device in a wired or wireless manner. Communication systems used for the communication I/F unit <NUM> to communicate with another device are arbitrary, and examples thereof include a local area network (LAN), a universal serial bus (USB), and the like. For example, performing an operation such as outputting the three-dimensional position/posture information to an industrial robot (not shown) through the communication I/F unit <NUM> can be considered.

The input unit <NUM> is, for example, a device for accepting various input operations or the like from a user which are capable of being realized by a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, or the like. The output unit <NUM> is, for example, a device, such as a display or a speaker, for informing a user who uses the information processing device <NUM> of various types of information through display, sound or the like. For example, the output unit <NUM> displaying the recognition results of the recognition unit <NUM> for the position/posture of the container to inform a user of the effect can also be considered.

As described above, the information processing device <NUM> according to the present embodiment generates, for example, the two-dimensional template which shows the shape of the upper edge of an object to be recognized for posture/position such as the container in advance, and then specifies the position of the container or the like by matching the captured image of an object to be recognized with the two-dimensional template. Although it is difficult to detect the three-dimensional coordinates of an object having a small width or an object formed of a specular light-reflective material, the position and posture of an object to be recognized such as the container are detected by performing a matching process alone on the two-dimensional image in the present embodiment, and thus it is possible to detect the posture/position of an object to be recognized with a high degree of accuracy.

In addition, particularly, in a case where a member that can have another member contained therein such as the container is an object to be recognized, the outward appearance of the object to be recognized when it is imaged changes depending on whether another member is contained, or the number of members contained, it is difficult to perform detection by matching based on an image of the whole container or the like. However, in the information processing device <NUM> according to the present embodiment, since detection is performed using the image of the upper edge of the container, it is possible to detect the posture/position of an object with a high degree of accuracy regardless of whether a member is contained inside or the like.

Further, in the information processing device <NUM> according to the present embodiment, since the position and posture of the container is detected on the basis of matching according to the two-dimensional information, it is possible to reduce the amount of calculation more than in a case where the position and posture of the container is detected using the three-dimensional information.

Claim 1:
An information processing device (<NUM>), adapted to recognize the three-dimensional position and posture of an object, comprising:
a first input unit (<NUM>), configured to receive an input of a three-dimensional model information for generating a three-dimensional model of the object to be recognized;
a template generation unit (<NUM>), configured to generate a two-dimensional template (<NUM>) which shows a shape of an upper edge of the object to be recognized on the basis of the three-dimensional model information, by extracting feature points of the upper edge from the three-dimensional model information of the object to be recognized;
a coordinate relationship identification unit (<NUM>), configured to generate a coordinate relationship information (<NUM>) indicating a relationship between three-dimensional coordinates of the three-dimensional model and two-dimensional coordinates when the three-dimensional model is imaged;
a second input unit (<NUM>), configured to receive an input of a captured image obtained by capturing an image of the object to be recognized;
a matching unit (<NUM>), configured to match the captured image with the two-dimensional template (<NUM>); and
a recognition unit (<NUM>), configured to recognize a three-dimensional position and posture of the object to be recognized by referencing the coordinate relationship information (<NUM>) with respect to the object to be recognized in the captured image which is detected according to two-dimensional matching results of the matching unit (<NUM>).