Point Cloud Registration using both Machine Learning and Non-learning Methods : with Data from a Photon-counting LIDAR Sensor

Abstract: Point Cloud Registration with data measured from a photon-counting LIDAR sensor from a large distance (500 m - 1.5 km) is an expanding field. Data measuredfrom far is sparse and have low detail, which can make the registration processdifficult, and registering this type of data is fairly unexplored. In recent years,machine learning for point cloud registration has been explored with promisingresults. This work compares the performance of the point cloud registration algorithm Iterative Closest Point with state-of-the-art algorithms, with data froma photon-counting LIDAR sensor. The data was provided by the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI). The chosen state-of-the-art algorithms were thenon-learning-based Fast Global Registration and learning-based D3Feat and SpinNet. The results indicated that all state-of-the-art algorithms achieve a substantial increase in performance compared to the Iterative Closest Point method. Allthe state-of-the-art algorithms utilize their calculated features to obtain bettercorrespondence points and therefore, can achieve higher performance in pointcloud registration. D3Feat performed point cloud registration with the highestaccuracy of all the state-of-the-art algorithms and ICP.