Manual Calibration in the Eye-to-Hand Setup (Six-Axis Robots - Using TCP Touch Method)
This how-to guide introduces how to complete the manual calibration for six-axis robots using the TCP touch method in the eye-to-hand (ETH) setup.
Preparation before Calibration
Before hand-eye calibration, you need to finish the following preparations:
Construct the Vision System
Construct the Mech-Mind Vision System by referring to the section Vision System Hardware Setup.
You need to use Mech-Eye Viewer, Mech-Vision and Mech-Viz during hand-eye calibration. Please ensure that they have been installed and are running the latest versions.
Prepare the Materials Required for Calibration
The manual calibration (TCP touch) in the ETH setup needs to use the calibration board and sharp tip.
Please prepare the calibration board and the sharp tip according to the following requirements:
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Ensure that the circles of the calibration board are clearly visible and without obvious scratches, and the board does not suffer from deformations.
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When the TCP touch method is used to collect calibration data in the ETH setup, please place the calibration board in the center of the working plane, where target objects are to be placed.
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The sharp tip should be mounted on the center of the robot flange. If an undetachable gripper is connected to the robot flange, you can attach the sharp point directly to the gripper.
In addition, before calibration, move the robot to the starting point for calibration to ensure that the robot will not block the camera from collecting images of the calibration board.
Check the Point Cloud Quality of the Calibration Board (Optional)
| The point cloud quality of the calibration board will affect the accuracy of hand-eye calibration. Check the point cloud quality of the calibration board to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the calibration results. The calibration process includes the step of checking the point cloud quality of the calibration board. You can also check the point cloud quality of the calibration board before starting the calibration to save time. |
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Place the calibration board at the center of the working plane within the camera’s field of view.
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Open the Mech-Eye Viewer software, select the camera used by the project and adjust camera parameters.
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Adjust the 2D parameters to ensure that the overall 2D image is not too dark, and each calibration circle is clearly visible.
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Adjust the 3D parameters to ensure that each calibration circle on the calibration board is complete and visible.
If the on-site ambient lights are not ideal and affect the quality of 2D images and point clouds, you can use shading or supplemental light to improve the lighting conditions.
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Make sure that the point cloud quality of the calibration board is up to standard after completing the preceding steps.
Normal Overexposed Underexposed 2D image
Point cloud
Complete Pre-calibration Checks
Please refer to Pre-calibration Checks and complete the following checks:
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Confirm that the robot base is mounted securely.
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Confirm that the camera mounting frame and camera are mounted securely.
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Confirm that the calibration board is mounted securely at the end of the robot (ETH).
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Confirm that the absolute accuracy of the robot meets the requirements for use.
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Verify robot model parameters.
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Confirm that the camera is warmed up.
Configuration before Calibration
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Open Mech-Vision, and click the Camera Calibration button in the toolbar. The Configuration before Calibration window will be prompted.
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After confirming that Pre-calibration checks are completed, click I’ve finished all checks, and then click Next.
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In the Select how to calibrate window, select the New calibration radio button, and then click the Next button.
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In the Select calibration task window, select Hand-eye calibration for custom robot from the drop-down list box, specify the Robot Euler angle convention parameter, select the robot coordinate system type, and then click the Next button.
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In the Select a robot type for calibration window, select the 6-axis robot radio button, and then click the Next button.
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In the Select camera setup window, select the Eye to hand radio button, and then click the Next button.
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In the Select how to collect data window, select the TCP touch radio button, and then click the Calibrate button. The Calibration (Eye to Hand) window will be prompted.
Till now, you have completed the pre-calibration configuration and can start the calibration procedure.
Calibration Procedure
Connect to Camera
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In the Connect to camera step, select the camera to connect in the Camera ID list, and then click the
button or double-click the camera entry to connect to it.
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After the camera is connected, click the Capture once or Capture live button.
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In the Image viewer panel, ensure that the camera can capture images normally and click the Next button on the bottom bar.
Mount Calibration Board & Check Intrinsic Parameters
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In the Mount calibration board & check intrinsic parameters step, select the calibration board model for the Standard calibration board model parameter according to its model nameplate in the 1 Select calibration board area.
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In the 2 Check calibration board position and point cloud quality area, read carefully the requirements on the calibration board position and point cloud quality, and then click the Capture continually button. The Capture continually button will turn into Stop capturing and detect position.
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Move the robot carrying the calibration board to an appropriate position, ensuring the calibration board is fully within the red frame, and the distance between the calibration board and the camera is as close to the recommended value as possible.
If the calibration is performed under Standard Interface communication, you should modify the calibration start point in the calibration program. -
Please ensure that the 2D image and depth map of the calibration board meet the requirements, and then click the Stop capturing and detect position button.
If the captured images do not meet the requirements, click Open Mech-Eye Viewer button to open the Mech-Eye Viewer software, adjust the 2D and 3D exposure parameters and re-capture images. Please note that you need to change the Parameter group parameter to “calib” first.
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In the 3 Check intrinsic parameters area, click the Check intrinsic parameters button.
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Confirm the results of the camera intrinsic parameter check.
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If the camera intrinsic parameter check passes, click the OK button in the prompted window, and then click the Next button on the bottom bar.
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If the camera intrinsic parameter check fails, adjust detection parameters by drawing aid circles or manually adjusting the calibration circle detection parameters, and then click the Recheck intrinsic parameters button.
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Draw an Aid Circle
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To draw an aid circle, click the Draw an aid circle button.
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In the right Image viewer panel, right-click the calibration board image, clear the Fit to window checkbox, press the Ctrl key and drag the roller to adjust the image to a suitable size.
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Move the mouse pointer to the cross center point of the calibration circle, press the left mouse button and make the aid circle completely include the calibration circle and then release it.
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Click the Recheck intrinsic parameters button, and confirm that the camera intrinsic parameter check passes.
Manually Adjust Detection Parameters
To manually adjust detection parameters, click Calibration circle detection parameters (advanced), adjust parameter settings and click the Recheck intrinsic parameters to confirm whether the camera intrinsic parameter check passes.
If the calibration circles are still not detected, please adjust the camera settings according to the on-site operating conditions.
Set TCP in Flange Frame
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In the Set TCP in flange frame step, select the Input known TCP radio button, and enter the TCP values.
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Click the Confirm TCP values button.
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Click the Next button on the bottom bar.
If the TCP values are unknown, select the Obtain TCP by calibration radio button, and then click the Calibrate TCP button. You can use the TCP calibration tool to calculate the TCP values.
Collect Images and Flange Poses
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In the Collect Images and Flange Poses step, understand the calibration board information collection instructions.
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Control the robot to let its end tip touch cross center of calibration circle 1 (point 1), and record the robot flange pose in the teach pendant.
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Click the
button of point 1, and enter the robot flange pose in the prompted Input Flange Pose of Robot dialog box, and then click the OK button.
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Repeat the preceding steps, and let the end tip touch the cross center points of point 2 and point 3, and enter robot flange poses.
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Click the
button of the current calibration board to collect calibration board images, enter the robot flange pose in the prompted Input Flange Pose of Robot dialog box, and then click the OK button.Make sure to move the robot arm out of the camera’s field of view first to avoid obstructing the camera’s capture of the calibration board image.
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Click the Update data button and then click the Next button on the bottom bar.
The calibration program requires that at least three points not in a line should be touched for calculating extrinsic parameters.
Calculate Extrinsic Parameters
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In the Calculate extrinsic parameters step, click the Calculate extrinsic parameters button.
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In the prompted window indicating calibration success, click the OK button.
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Click the Save button on the bottom bar. In the prompted Save Calibration Files dialog box, click the OK button. The camera calibration result will be automatically saved in the “calibration” directory of the project.
Till now, the calibration process is completed.
Validate Calibration Results
This section provides methods for quickly validating calibration results.
View Error Point Cloud in Point Cloud Viewer
After calculating the camera extrinsic parameters, please perform the following operation:
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In the Calculate extrinsic parameters step, view the error point cloud in the right Point cloud viewer panel after the calibration calculation is complete.
The error point cloud shows the deviation between the calculated value and the actual value of the circles on the calibration board. For the detailed description, please refer to Error Point Cloud Description. -
Confirm that the calibration accuracy meets the project’s requirements. Find the error value with the 100% percentage to get the rough calibration accuracy.
For example, the calibration accuracy in the image below is within ±1 mm (using the method of TCP touch to collect calibration data).
Roughly Check Coincidence Degree between the Point Cloud of the Robot and the Robot Model in Scene Viewer
After calculating the camera extrinsic parameters, please perform the following operation:
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After calibration, move the robot arms into the field of view of the camera.
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In the Calculate extrinsic parameters step, click the Capture by camera button in the 2 Auxiliary tool area. This operation triggers the camera to capture images.
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In the right Scene viewer panel, visually check coincidence degree between the point cloud of the real robot and the robot model.
If the point cloud of the robot roughly coincides with the robot model, the calibration is successful.
Use the Extrinsic Parameter Accuracy Validation Tool to Validate Extrinsic Parameters
For high-precision scenarios (within ±2mm), this method should be used to thoroughly validate the extrinsic parameters.
In the Calculate extrinsic parameters step, click Extrinsic parameter accuracy to open the tool. Please refer to the tool’s guidance to validate the extrinsic parameter accuracy and generate the final evaluation report.
Change the Extrinsic Parameter File
If the camera’s extrinsic parameter file has been used by a Mech-Vision project, you need to change the extrinsic parameter file used by the Mech-Vision project to a new one after you finish the hand-eye calibration.
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Select the Capture Images from Camera Step.
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In the Step Parameters panel, click
of the Calibration Parameter Group parameter, and select the newly calibrated extrinsic parameter file.