Fraunhofer IGD Builds an Autonomous 3D Scanning System

A new autonomous 3D scanning system can scan objects in real-time without anyone teaching it how.

Developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research in Darmstadt, Germany, the system is composed of a robotic arm, a turntable and a 3D scanner. (Image courtesy of Fraunhofer IGD.)

How It Works

After an object is placed on the turntable, the system’s robotic arm maneuvers the 3D scanner around the object. To be as efficient as possible, the system calculates and executes the minimum number of scans needed to capture the object's full geometry.

The 3D scanning system can calculate most efficient minimum number of scan pathways to plot during the first scan of object, using what Fraunhofer IGD terms “view planning” algorithms. These algorithms allow the 3D scanning system to measure any component no matter how unusual the surface geometry and topology.

The new autonomous 3D scanning system from Fraunhofer IGD doesn’t require the usual information about CAD models or any of the standard specifications of components. (Image courtesy of Fraunhofer IGD).

Having an autonomous 3D scanning system that can capture components of any design by independently measuring them means that it can also reproduce captured rare parts for airplanes, cars and trucks as well as create batches of them for 3D printing or machining.

Engineering.com previously covered Fraunhofer’s efficiency testing for metal additive manufacturing, where a team of researchers tested different metal printing materials and design techniques on varied short run batches of components for cost comparison.

The autonomous 3D scanning system also detects an object’s printability and sends approved captured 3D models to a 3D printer, where the 3D scan is replicated as physical data.

Fraunhofer’s autonomous 3D scanning system is also being used in a European Union funded venture called “Autoware.” The goal of this project is to determine how robots can use the software of the autonomous 3D scanning system to improve their ability to assist in the manufacturing of cylinder assemblies. Fraunhofer’s scanning system enables robots to recognize components that it is presented with by comparing them with a database of stored components. Not only can it identify and recognize the component in front of it, but the system can also anticipate which component its human counterpart will need next to continue the cylinder assembly.

Fraunhofer IGD’s autonomous 3D scanning system will be on display and available for viewing at the Hannover Messe, which runs from April 23^rd- 27th, and will be located at 2v018 (Hall 6, Booth A30).