Students create 3D scanning app

Author: Gareth Halfacree
Published: 24th November 2009
Comments (15) Stumble
Students create 3D scanning app

The ProFORMA application uses a standard off-the-shelf webcam to create 3D meshes of real-world objects.

An engineering student at Cambridge University has come up with a neat technique for turning an off-the-shelf webcam into a fully-functional 3D scanner, and it's all done in software with no hardware modifications required.

Traditional 3D scanning systems - which allow users to create a 3D mesh from real-world objects - tend to be slow and bulky, relying on lasers and other esoteric measuring systems to map physical objects. Qi Pan's system, developed during his work as a PhD student at Cambridge University's Engineering Department in partnership with Gerhard Reitmayr and Tom Drummond and described in full on his university homepage - via BoingBoing - uses nothing more than a standard webcam and some clever software to create convincing 3D meshes from real world shapes.

As well as a simple system for creating fairly accurate representations of the object, the ProFORMA (Probabilistic Feature-based On-line Rapid Model Acquisition) software also provides a way to track the object through 3D space - matching every movement and rotation of the object and overlaying the 3D mesh precisely, providing the basis for possible future augmented reality applications. As can be seen on the project's sadly silent demonstration video, the tracking is even able to keep up with a rapid flick of the cardboard cutout across a desk surface.

Although the mapping of the object isn't completely accurate - and is unlikely to replace expensive professional 3D scanning systems, at least in its current incarnation - it does represent an extremely cheap way of putting 3D objects into a computer, and the live texture mapping is certainly impressive. It's easy to imagine this technology being used to introduce digital versions of your real-world possessions in a game environment such as Second Life, although whether it'll see professional use by hard-up 3D modeling studios remains to be seen.

For those eager to get their hands on the software, Pan has promised a Linux-based system in the "next few months," followed by a Windows-based system for those less au fait with the penguin.

Does this look like the sort of thing you'd like to play with, or are you struggling to see the practical uses for a semi-accurate 3D scanning system? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
Quote Krikkit 24th November 2009, 14:08
Wow. That's awesome. :D
Quote Skiddywinks 24th November 2009, 14:10
Wow, madness. That is some very impressive stuff.
Quote proxess 24th November 2009, 14:20
Cool.
Quote javaman 24th November 2009, 15:05
nice work. I think the key is here that it was a student. Im doing software engineering and just wondering what the future will hold after a recent conversation with the head of the school. Programming is open to everyone yet its still an area of industry that is under staffed and still growing. Universities are starting to push electronics and software based professions (an interesting fact is EEE, ESE and pure Computer Science students are getting into industry jobs based on their qualifictions over 90% of the time). The way they aim to teach the course is is to encourage independant learning and prepares you for industry rather than filling you with knowledge that becomes totally unrelated when you specialise. It doesn't totally surprise that a student is able to impliment his skills. Ive seen the levels of skill some of the returning students from work placement are at. Some with zero hour contracts and in a slightly rarer case, others encouraged to leave their studies for the company.
Quote theevilelephant 24th November 2009, 16:25
Certainly impressive but as mentioned in its current incarnation it's really only useful as a very rough 3D scanner. I would like to see how it fares with more complex images or trying to model whole rooms. :)
Quote Mongoose132 24th November 2009, 16:27
wonder how it'd fare on my face, always fancied putting myself into UT2004, or the like.. :P
Quote alecamused 24th November 2009, 17:09
awesome stuff.

similar stuff and really simple to try yourself:
http://www.david-laserscanner.com/
Quote KayinBlack 24th November 2009, 17:54
/want.

Please follow this, and let us know when any version is available.
Quote Star*Dagger 24th November 2009, 18:36
All technical disciplines should be more focused on application. Maybe make the degrees 6 years long and have 3 years theory and 3 for creative application. In my opinion education is giving people the tools to apply their own creativity. Get out of the way and be amazed!

Kudos to these folks who may have single-handedly revolutionized 3d scanning, lol!

Awesome!

Yours in seal of Approval Plasma,
Star¤Dagger
Quote Timmy_the_tortoise 24th November 2009, 20:06
Seen it done before.

Old news.
Quote bogie170 24th November 2009, 20:32
Little bit of software code to clean up the lines and hey presto! Awesome!
Quote Star*Dagger 24th November 2009, 23:19
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timmy_the_tortoise
Seen it done before.

Old news.

Link or it didn't happen
Quote livesabitch 25th November 2009, 01:22
this is actualy quite classy! i do see this taking off and to a design team that want to creat a quick 3D moddle of a building or say the inside they could then probably redsign the inside out on the original mesh of the building! cheap way to redecorate and change your style to how you like it then make it happen! hows that for saving money for a cheap program, and webcam!
Quote TomD22 25th November 2009, 13:57
Its The University of Cambridge.

'Cambridge Uni' doesn't exist.
Quote The_Beast 25th November 2009, 18:22
Very cool, now just bring it to market
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