From: pustule@cats.ucsc.edu (Thaddeus H. Wood)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
Subject: 3-D Scanner from GA Tech
Date: 13 Oct 1992 21:51:27 GMT
Organization: University of California; Santa Cruz
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: as215-ws-2.ucsc.edu


Aug 24  90 lns
3-D Optical Digitizer Expands Graphics Applications
  A new device for automatically generating detailed computer descriptions of
complex three-dimensional objects may help expand the use of computer
animation, computer-aided design and engineering, scientific visualization,
medical simulation and special effects.
  Called a "3-D Optical Digitizer," the device would provide film and
television producers, reconstructive surgeons, industrial designers,
scientists and others with a low-cost means for creating the basic computer
descriptions needed for animation, modeling and visualization. The basic
descriptions serve as a foundation for computer correction and manipulation
work needed to produce dramatic images.
  Developed in the Multimedia Technology Laboratory at the Georgia Institute
of Technology, the scanner would eliminate tedious and time-consuming work
now often done manually with pen digitizers and other basic tools.
  "There are some pretty sophisticated graphic-based commercials on
television that cost marketers a lot of money because they are hand-designed
from the ground up," explained Michael J. Sinclair, co-director of the
Multimedia Laboratory. "This device would enable a graphic designer or artist
to import a very complex shape into a computer graphic program in a few
minutes."

Cost-Effective
  Optical scanners capable of generating computer models already exist, but
their cost is beyond the means of many potential users -- and most of the
scanners can accommodate only relatively small objects. The Georgia Tech
device can handle large objects, including the full human figure, Sinclair
said.
  The scanner uses three video cameras to obtain information about the
contour of an object as it is lighted and slowly rotated on a turntable.
Proprietary electronic equipment converts the video input to the basic
mathematical description computers need to model complex objects. The data is
made available in standard (.DXF) format files compatible with computer
systems.
  "Once you get the basic description of the object, both its color and its
form, the artist can do the electronic alterations to change the color and
texture, make distortions or other changes," Sinclair explained. "Designers
can then augment the system using readily available electronic sculpting
tools -- such as computer-based modelers available from Autodesk's 3-D
Studio, Wavefront and Thompson Digital Imaging -- to manipulate the object."
  Because they readily absorb light, the hair and eyes of the human figure
are difficult to scan. The new Georgia Tech scanner overcomes many of those
problems, Sinclair said.
  The "Golden Athlete" featured in Atlanta's multimedia bid for the 1996
Summer Olympics was hand-digitized from a plaster sculpture. The time and
difficulty involved in creating that model led to development of the scanner,
which was later used to build a computerized bust of Georgia Tech president
John Patrick Crecine. In a promotional video for a new student service
facility, the bust -- part of furnishings in the planned "Success Center"
building -- invites students to attend Georgia Tech.
  Sinclair believes the new scanning device is part of the trend toward lower
cost and more widespread availability of multimedia computing.
  "Three-dimensional modeling, animation and rendering are becoming much more
accepted -- and expected -- by the public, and there are more and more
graphic animators," he said. "The technology is migrating to desktop
computing equipment and low-cost workstations, allowing more people to get
involved with this work."
  Sinclair believes his optical digitizer would allow users to purchase a
complete scanning/animation system running on a high-end personal computer
for approximately $15,000. Currently available systems designed to do
equivalent work can cost more than $100,000, he noted.

Medical Imaging and CAD
  One area of expanding interest has been the use of computer graphics to
simulate the effects of reconstructive surgery. After scanning a patient's
head into the computer, the surgeon can study how bone alterations and other
changes might affect the patient's facial features.
  Another application would be for industrial designers who want to make
computer-aided design (CAD) models of existing products. By quickly and
automatically generating a basic computer description of such objects, the
scanner would save the time required for creating models by traditional
computer graphic modeling methods.
  The scanner has been successfully demonstrated in a proof-of-concept
prototype, but additional development is needed to produce a commercial
prototype. That work is being supported by a grant from Georgia Tech's
Faculty Research Commercialization Grant Program, designed to help faculty
members develop commercial products from their research. The grant was among
the first provided by the program, which is administered by the institute's
technology business incubator, the Advanced Technology Development Center
(ATDC).
  Sinclair hopes to license the technology to a company that would be
interested in producing the scanner as a commercial product. As the
development proceeds, he has been testing the scanner on a variety of
commercial projects that will help demonstrate the capabilities of the
system.
  The Multimedia Laboratory is offering scanning services to clients in order
to facilitate further development of additional features -- and to satisfy
demand for this advanced service.
  For additional information about the 3-D Optical Digitizer, please contact
Robert Gemmell at (404) 853-0471.
-- John Toon, Georgia Tech Research News



Copyright 1992 by HPCwire. All rights reserved.

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Again, another interesting tidbit.

--
Thad