The Analysis of the Effect of the Parameters on Indirect Distance Measurement using a Digital Camera

This paper deals with the indirect measurement of distance using a digital camera. Based on the mathematical model of the proposed method, the error and the uncertainty of indirect distance measurement are determined. The effect of the parameters such as the distance, the width of the object, the camera parameters (focal length, sensor’s size, resolution) on the measurement result is evaluated and verified by the experiment results. This analysis can be applied to determine the uncertainty of distance measurement to a given object for a measurement system with specified parameters. It can also be used in determining the required parameters of the measurement system so that the distance measurement to a given object can achieve a specified accuracy or precision. Another utilisation of the analysis is to determine the parameter of the object (object’s width) which a measurement system with given parameters can measure with a specified accuracy.