Aug 10 2010
UC Berkeley researchers have developed a laser backpack, which has the ability to scan the surroundings and generate a 3D model immediately. The new laser pack can help make more energy efficient buildings and more realistic video games.
The Cal Berkeley team, spearheaded by Professor Avideh Zakhor, had modeled two floors of the Corey Hall using the laser backpack. A student hiked the hall wearing the backpack that had cameras and lasers. The laser scanned the details of the hall and the cameras captured the hall’s panorama. Finally, a model was generated covered with photographs.
Zakhor’s team has also developed a technology that generates 3D views of the important cities on Google Earth website. To have the 3D view of inside the buildings, the imaging lab team used a combination of a new type miniature laser and an inertial management unit (IMU) like missile guides. The lasers generate the geometry, IMU localizes the laser backpack, and the cameras produce the texture map. The cameras, lasers, and IMU are fused to achieve precise navigation.
When the backpack is switched on, all the four cameras in the backpack capture pictures at the same time. One of the four lasers looks at the right direction and the other three lasers face left, upward, and downward directions, respectively. The backpack’s primary navigation laser is responsible for yaw. The device helps users to walk caves, stairways, and areas where a robot cannot be used.