Picture
Laser backpack creates instant 3D models (ABC News)
Updated at 03:48 PM August 7th 2010


by Richard HartBERKELEY, CA (KGO) -- Researchers at UC Berkeley have developed a laser backpack that scans its surroundings and creates an instant 3D model.



It can make video games more realistic and buildings more energy efficient. They are driving to discover a model of the whole world.

"Here's a model of two floors of Corey Hall," says Professor Zakhor. "This is the fourth floor and this is the third floor."

It is the first model of an existing building, generated automatically, without human intervention. It is the work of a Cal Berkeley team led by Professor Avideh Zakhor.

Grad student Nicholas Corso dons a backpack brimming with lasers and cameras. As he hikes the hall, the lasers scan everything from floor to ceiling and the cameras capture a panorama.

"The idea," explains Professor Zakhor, "is that you wear a backpack, you walk inside the building. You're done. You push a button and out comes this model."

The model is textured (covered) with the photographs.

The team is also behind the technology that creates 3D views of major cities on Google Earth. So, why not fly into the buildings and not just around them? The outdoor version relies on GPS but you can't rely on GPS indoors. So, the team in the imaging lab combined a new breed of miniature laser with an inertial management unit (IMU) like the ones that guide missiles.

The IMU localizes the backpack, lasers generate the geometry, and cameras generate the texture map. All three are fused for precise navigation. Once it's turned on, there are four cameras snapping pictures simultaneously. As one laser looks left, another laser looks right. One looks at the floor and another looks at the ceiling.

The primary navigation laser accounts for yaw, which is what we do when we walk. Up front, the most sophisticated analog component ever devised, is a human walker. With this, you can walk stairways, caves and places where a robot just cannot roll.


READ MORE
 


Comments

donald james anderson

10/10/2011 14:16:09

do you know that i have predicted all of the technology even yours to the T.AN Anderson AQ 37 years old download,spacial imu lhc download 1990-1991 invitee,1st grade iq tested by uc berkeley and mentally overtook tester and have been in your system since,aqan donald james anderson fitron 21 [VF-21] undesignated striker[no Aschool no BEE and passed the AUG-9 radar school [SR-71, f-14 tomcat]textron is monitoring me also[AN/AAQ-37 das system F-35,AAI,anderson artificial inteligence program]all illegal at this time for non payment and the super computers[about half are on my side and the woman i am in love with margo waddle and i are a satcom recordable experiment by nasa since 1971 and remember the computer at berkeley loves me and margo so check out codes[try 5430richardpettyletsgethigh3919799]5430 43 420 is my ss# and 3919799 is my oregon id satcom seti berkeley is where i want to go with margo and aimes nasa telescopic plus vandenbergs satcom1 to check out paul allens vulcan airport system and the asaf global grid love you all don and margo[mother of shalie daughter of james footnote:there is an illegal operationanderson and project margo waddle going on and the back pack situation and the 300 mile an hour waves and lybia are also part of my mind set quite sometime ago text me don

 



Leave a Reply