Robust Structure from Motion observer: Input to State Stability approach
Abstract
The authors present a novel nonlinear Thau-Luenberger observer for estimating Structure from Motion using a calibrated camera. Accurate reconstruction of the 3D structure of a scene relies on precise estimation of the camera’s translational and angular velocities, which can be challenging for cameras on mobile platforms. The proposed observer aims to estimate these velocities robustly in the presence of measurement noise, with stability characterized through Input to State Stability analysis and Lyapunov theory. The stability conditions are determined using optimization techniques based on Linear Matrix Inequalities. The performance of the proposed approach is validated through simulation and experimental data, demonstrating its effectiveness in recovering the depth of tracked features and its robustness against disturbances.