Range estimation using simple infrared sensors without prior knowledge of surface parameters

The paper describes a new method for range estimation using low-cost infrared sensors. The intensity data obtained with infrared sensors depends highly on the surface properties and the configuration of the sensors and the surface. Therefore, in many related studies, either the properties of the surface are determined first or certain assumptions about the surface are made in order to calculate the distance and the orientation of the surface relative to the sensors. We propose a novel method for position estimation of surfaces with infrared sensors without the need to determine the surface properties first. The method is verified experimentally with planar surfaces covered with white paper, wooden block, bubble packing material, white styrofoam, blue and brown cardboard. The overall absolute mean error in the range estimates has been calculated as 0.21 cm in the range from 12.5 to 45 cm. The results obtained demonstrate that infrared sensors can be easily used for localization to an unexpectedly high accuracy without prior knowledge of the surface parameters.