Fig. 1. POM prototype, Volkswagen version 
2.2 Solution 
The main feature of POM is its modular concept both for 
hardware and software components. It is implemented in 
a UNIX workstation and enables an almost free 
configuration of different sensors. The software system 
consists of modules for image processing and sensor 
control, routines for analytical photogrammetry and 3D 
element calculation, database management and a 
graphical user-interface. The whole system is internally 
controlled by a program interpreter which executes the 
commands of a special programming language. 
The complete system is designed such that fast 
adaptation to new applications can easily be done 
without changing software source code. 
3. SENSOR TECHNOLOGY 
POM enables the almost free configuration of different 
sensors and light sources in order to meet the 
requirements of a specific application. Currently the 
following sensors can be used: 
- Rollei Reseau-Scanning Camera RSC 
- CCD video cameras 
- Digital rotary table 
- Light sources 
   
The RSC offers a large image format (B0 x 50mm?) and 
high resolution (-4000 x 6400 pixels) by sequential 
object scanning using a standard CCD array sensor 
[Luhmann & Wester-Ebbinghaus 1986]. It is the only 
digital metric camera which has focus capability without 
affecting the interior orientation [Riechmann 1990]. This 
camera is equipped with a wide-angle CCD camera for 
overview purposes, which has a field of view similar to 
the total image format of the RSC. The image of the 
overview camera can be used for approximate sensor 
positioning of the RSC (Fig. 2). Camera control is 
performed by serial interfacing, image information is 
transferred as analog video signals. 
The digital rotary table (Fribosa) serves as an object 
carrier and enables a flexible positioning of the object 
with respect to the cameras in order to achieve object 
surveys from all around. The chosen table has an 
absolute angle measuring device. The objects are fixed 
on the table using an off-the-shelf part mounting system. 
In order to solve the complex measuring tasks it is 
necessary to operate with a flexible illumination concept 
where light intensity and direction can be chosen 
appropriate to the specific object part which has to be 
measured. Currently there are up to 32 direct light spots, 
three diffuse light groups and an integrated light table 
which all can be controlled by the computer. 
In addition to photogrammetric procedures, the use of 
angle-measuring devices (motorized theodolites, laser- 
pointers) is anticipated by the system design and is 
currently under development. 
  
Fig. 2. Overview image for RSC positioning