Auto-tracker characterization with robotics applications

Abstract

Computing devices and methods are provided to automatically characterize a localization system tracker for a procedure. A starting tracker definition is refined until convergence using an iterative process and measured features of the tracker in images provided by a localization system camera. In each iteration, poses are determined from the measured features using a current tracker definition. The current definition is then refined using the poses and an optimization function. Tracker images may be captured passively, when performing other procedure steps. In a robotic context, command trajectories move a robot may be to respective poses where images to characterize the tracker are captured. An updated trajectory may be commanded to optimize convergence, additionally using the measured features at the updated pose in the iterative process. A robot kinematic model may be defined, refining a starting model using tracker poses from the localization system and sensor positions from the robot system.