3D mapping portable laser backpack to revolutionize defense missions

Washington, Sept 9 (ANI): Researchers at University of California, Berkeley, have developed a portable, laser backpack for 3D mapping, which is capable of producing fast, automatic and realistic 3D mapping of difficult interior environments.

It can work without being strapped to a robot or attached to a cart, can perform fast data acquisition and collect the data while the human operator is walking.

Using this technology, Air Force personnel will be able to collectively view the interior of modelled buildings and interact over a network in order to achieve military goals like mission planning.

"We have also developed novel sensor fusion algorithms that use cameras, lasers range finders and inertial measurement units to generate a textured, photo-realistic, 3D model that can operate without GPS input and that is a big challenge," said Dr. Avideh Zakhor.

"We are gratified to see how technology can drive science in a domain of critical relevance to practical defence implementations," said Dr. Jon Sjogren (AFOSR).

Now, researchers plan to model entire buildings and develop interactive viewers that allow users to virtually walk through buildings before they are there in person.

"We have already generated 3D models of two stories of the electrical engineering building at UC Berkeley, including the stairway and that is a first," said Zakhor. (ANI)