Image-based Virtual Reality Technology Research

One of the most important goals of virtual reality is to create a virtual world by computers,which allow users observe the virtual objects interactively. Image-based virtual reality technology is a new approach in composing a Virtual environment. This technology uses a set of panoramic images to compose the virtual environment and walk in the space is accomplished by "hopping" to different panoramic images watch-point. The advantage of this method is the quality of created images is independent of scene complexity. Hence,strong image reality sense and real-time interaction without special hardware can be obtained by this method.On the basis of summarizing and analyzing previous work,this paper brings forward a model for creating an image-based virtual reality system. By using this model,we developed an image-based virtual reality development kit (VRDK). The kit has the functions of making panoramic images,constructing virtual environment,navigating virtual environment.Stitching images,the research key of this paper,is one of the key techs to construct virtual environment. In the process of research,some new ideas are put forward and the corresponding algorithms are devised:cylindrical projection,stitching orientation,image smoothing. A stitching images tool named StitchTool was developed on the basis of these algorithms. A satisfied result was acquired in test,...